Marine Life

Three-bar dascyllus

Muraka mas

Dascyllus aruanus

Dascyllus aruanus and D. melanurus are sometimes confused, although D. melanurus is not recorded from the Maldives; however, they can be easily distinguished by the position of the anterior black bars and the lack of black on the caudal fin of D. aruanus.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 7.5 cm
color: White with three broad black bars. The first diagonal bar from nape and upper head through eye to chin. Caudal fin pale.
order: Perciformes
family: Pomacentridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/dascyllus-aruanus.png
habitat and biology: This species inhabits lagoons and coastal reefs at depths of 1-12 meters, typically gathering in groups around small coral formations. Its diet consists mainly of zooplankton found in the water column above the corals. When threatened, it takes refuge among the coral branches.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 11-13 rays, the anal fin has 2 spines and 11-13 rays, the pectoral rays are 17-19, the body depth is 1.5-1.7 in standard length, the suborbital bones are scaled and finely serrate, the preopercular margin is finely serrate, and the pectoral fin is slightly shorter than the head.