Midget Chromis, Pycnochromis acares (Randall & Swerdloff 1973)


A Midget Chromis, Chromis acares, in Tahiti, French Polynesia, November 2016. Source: zsispeo / Flickr. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:
A very small greyish to brownish damselfish with a yellow patch from the snout to the pectoral-fin base, a black anal fin with a white leading edge, a yellow caudal fin, and a small yellow spot on the body at the rear of the dorsal fin.
This species was previously known as Chromis fieldi.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2023, Pycnochromis acares in Fishes of Australia, accessed 30 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5222

Midget Chromis, Pycnochromis acares (Randall & Swerdloff 1973)

More Info


Distribution

Ribbon Reefs east of Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Western-central Pacific.
Individuals aggregate to feed on zooplankton on outer reef slopes over live coral and rubble areas.

Etymology

The specific name is from the Greek akares (= small) in reference to the small size of this species.

Species Citation

Chromis acares Randall, & Swerdloff 1973, Pacific Science 27(4): 331, figs 2-3. Type locality: Off tanker buoys at harbor entrance, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South Pacific, depth 20 m.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2023

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Midget Chromis, Pycnochromis acares (Randall & Swerdloff 1973)

References


Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 237 pp. 251 figs.

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

Allen, G.R., Arceo, H., Mutia, M.T.M., Muyot, F.B., NaƱola, C.L. & Santos, M. 2022. Pycnochromis acares. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T188618A1903236. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T188618A1903236.en. Accessed on 21 September 2023.

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

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp. (as Chromis acares)

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E. & Swerdloff, S.N. 1973. A review of the damselfish genus Chromis from the Hawaiian Islands, with descriptions of three new species. Pacific Science 27(4): 327-349. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/812 (as Chromis acares)

Tang, K.L., Stiassny, M. L. J., Mayden, R.L. & DeSalle, R. 2021. Systematics of Damselfishes. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109(1): 258-318. https://doi.org/10.1643/i2020105

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37372152

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:2-37 m

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:5.5 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map