Threespot Humbug, Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell 1829)

Other Names: Threespot Damsels, Threespot Dascyllus, Three-spot Dascyllus, Three-spot Humbug

A Threespot Humbug, Dascyllus trimaculatus, at North Solitary Island, New South Wales. Source: Ian V. Shaw / Reef Life Survey. License: CC BY Attribution

Summary:

Juveniles are black overall with bluish scale centres, a white blotch on the forehead and another on the upper sides. Adults lack the spot on the head, and the spot on the sides is reduced in size, and they may be much paler when breeding. Some individuals also have yellow caudal, anal and pelvic fins.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2020, Dascyllus trimaculatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 10 Dec 2023, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/349

Threespot Humbug, Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell 1829)

More Info

Distribution	Rottnest Island to the Dampeir Archipelago and offhsore reefs of north Western Australia, and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, to New Year Island, Northern Territory, and the far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, and reefs in the Coral Sea, to Jervis Bay, New South Wales; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Lord Howe Province (and possibly Norfolk Island) in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in the tropical, Indo-west-central Pacific. Inhabits coral and rocky reefs. Groups of adults usually frequent coral heads and large rocks, while juveniles often shelter among the spines of Diadema sea urchins, large sea anemones or within branching corals.
Features	Dorsal fin XI, I,14-16; Anal fin II,14-15. Body depth 1.4-1.6 in SL. Margins of preorbital, suborbital and preoperculum finely serrated.
Biology	Species of the genus Dascyllus are obligate coral dwellers. They are protogynous hermaphrodites, with females having the ability to change sex during their life cycle. One or two dominant males defend a single branching coral head with a harem of juveniles and females. In return for the shelter provided by the coral, the fish remove unwanted algal growth from the coral. Females spawn demersal adhesive eggs that are guarded by the male parent until the larvae hatch.
Etymology	The specific name trimaculatus is form the Latin tres (= three) and macula (= spot) in reference to the three white spots on the body of this species.
Species Citation	Pomacentrus trimaculatus Rüppell, 1829, Fische des Rothen Meeres. 2: 39. Type locality: Massawa, Eritrea, Red Sea.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2020
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Threespot Humbug, Dascyllus trimaculatus (Rüppell 1829)

References

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