Black Damsel, Neoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier 1830)


Other Names: Black Damsel-fish, Blue and Gold Damsel-fish, Bowtie Damselfish, Royal Damsel, Royal Damselfish, Zulu Damsel

A Black Damsel, Neoglyphidodon melas, in the Raja Ampat islands, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2016. Source: Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:
Adults are a deep bluish-black, and the juveniles are very pale blue with a yellow dorsal surface, yellow outer caudal-fin rays, pale bluish pelvic and anal fins with black anterior rays.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Neoglyphidodon melas in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/359

Black Damsel, Neoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier 1830)

More Info


Distribution

Found in Australia from Ningaloo Reef, WA, to the Capricorn Group, QLD; also at Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, WA, and Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea. Elsewhere, widespread in the Indo-West Pacific. Inhabits coral-rich areas in lagoons and seaward reefs, often in association with soft corals.

Species Citation

Glyphisodon melas Cuvier, 1830, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons 5: 472. Type locality: Java.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Black Damsel, Neoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier 1830)

References


Allen, G.R., 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. 240 p.

Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Melle, Germany : Mergus Verlag 271 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Cuvier, G.L. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1830. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 5 499 pp. pls 100-140.

Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical Reef-Fishes of the Western Pacific, Indonesia and Adjacent Waters. Jakarta : PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama 314 pp. pls.

Marshall, T.C. 1964. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coastal Waters of Queensland. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 566 pp. 136 pls.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37372084

Depth:1-36 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:18 cm TL

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CAAB distribution map