Dascyllus


Dascyllus is a genus of fish in the family Pomacentridae. They are usually commensals with corals.

Taxonomy

Three species complexes have been proposed: the D. aruanus complex, the D. trimaculatus complex, and the D. reticulatus complex. However, only the D. aruanus complex and the D. trimaculatus complex are monophyletic. The species of the D. aruanus complex are the most basal in the genus ''Dascyllus.''

Biology

Species of the genus Dascyllus are found in the Indo-West Pacific, and are primarily planktivorous.
The species of the D. trimaculatus complex are the largest in size, growing up to 90–110 mm. All other species are smaller, reaching 50–65 mm, with the exception of D. flavicaudus, which reaches 90 mm.
File:Sharm rocks 04.jpg|left|thumb|210x210px|Juvenile D. trimaculata hosting Stichodactyla haddoni.
The D. trimaculatus complex is strongly associated with sea anemones as juveniles. Some and potentially all species in the D. trimaculatus group are gonochoristic, but all other species are protogynous. It is likely that protogyny arose once in the common ancestor of the genus Dascyllus, which was then lost in the ancestor of the D. trimaculatus complex. All Dascyllus species are demersal spawners, and in all species, the female lays her eggs in nests prepared by a male, and the eggs are tended by the male until hatching.

Species

Currently, 11 recognized species are placed in this genus:
SpeciesCommon nameImage
Dascyllus abudafur
Indian Ocean humbug
Dascyllus albisella
T. N. Gill, 1862
Hawaiian dascyllus
Dascyllus aruanus
Whitetail dascyllus
Dascyllus auripinnis
J. E. Randall & H. A. Randall, 2001
Golden domino dascyllus
Dascyllus carneus
J. G. Fischer, 1885
Cloudy dascyllus
Dascyllus flavicaudus
H. A. Randall & G. R. Allen, 1977
Yellowtail dascyllus
Dascyllus marginatus
Marginate dascyllus
Dascyllus melanurus
Bleeker, 1854
Blacktail humbug
Dascyllus reticulatus
Reticulate dascyllus
Dascyllus strasburgi
Klausewitz, 1960
Strasburg's dascyllus
Dascyllus trimaculatus
Threespot dascyllus

Trivia

Deb, a character in the animated film Finding Nemo, is a damselfish of genus Dascyllus.