---
title: Pomacentridae (Pomacentridae)
scientific_name: Pomacentridae
common_name: Pomacentridae
rank: Family
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:09:19.377Z
tags: Pomacentridae, Pomacentridae, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae
---

# Pomacentridae (*Pomacentridae*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Family
- **Scientific name:** Pomacentridae
- **Body shape:** Oval - Egg-shaped body, deeper than it is thick - damselfishes, surgeonfishes.
- **Species listed here:** 35

## How to recognise this group

- small, oval body, typically 5-15 cm long
- active, territorial on specific reef patches
- single dorsal fin running most of the back
- forked or notched tail fin
- bold single-colour bodies or sharply contrasting bands

Pomacentridae, commonly known as damselfishes and clownfishes, are small, deep-bodied, and laterally compressed fishes. They typically measure 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in) in length, with some species growing up to 35 cm (14 in). Many display bright colours such as blue, yellow, or orange, often with contrasting patterns, while others are uniformly drab. The family name Pomacentridae derives from Greek, meaning "cover-spine," referring to a sharp opercular spine.

These fish inhabit diverse reef environments from shallow surge zones to deeper reef slopes, living from the surface down to 60 m (200 ft). Most feed on algae, small invertebrates, or zooplankton. They are highly territorial, defending small patches of reef, often exhibiting complex courtship rituals and biparental care of eggs laid on hard surfaces. Clownfishes (subfamily Amphiprioninae) are notable for their obligate symbiosis with sea anemones. They are among the most abundant fish encountered on Red Sea reefs.


## Species (35)

- [Arabian Chromis (Chromis flavaxilla)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/arabian-chromis)
- [Black Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/black-damselfish)
- [Blackbarred Damselfish (Chrysiptera annulata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/blackbarred-damselfish)
- [Blackbordered Dascyllus (Dascyllus marginatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/blackbordered-dascyllus)
- [Blackspot Sergeant (Abudefduf sordidus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/blackspot-sergeant)
- [Bluegreen Chromis (Chromis viridis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/bluegreen-chromis)
- [Bluntsnout Gregory (Stegastes punctatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/bluntsnout-gregory)
- [Chocolatedip Chromis (Pycnochromis dimidiatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/chocolatedip-chromis)
- [Dark Damselfish (Pomacentrus aquilus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/dark-damselfish)
- [Dusky Gregory (Stegastes nigricans)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/dusky-gregory)
- [Duskytail Chromis (Chromis pelloura)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/duskytail-chromis)
- [Half-and-half Chromis (Pycnochromis iomelas)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/half-and-half-chromis)
- [Humbug Dascyllus (Dascyllus aruanus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/humbug-dascyllus)
- [Indian Ocean Humbug (Dascyllus abudafur)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/indian-ocean-humbug)
- [Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/indo-pacific-sergeant)
- [Jewel Damsel (Stegastes lacrymatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/jewel-damsel)
- [Jewel Damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/jewel-damselfish)
- [Jordan’s Damselfish (Teixeirichthys jordani)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/jordans-damselfish)
- [Miry’s Damselfish (Neopomacentrus miryae)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/mirys-damselfish)
- [Onespot Damselfish (Chrysiptera unimaculata)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/onespot-damselfish)
- [Pale Damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon indicus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/pale-damselfish)
- [Regal Damselfish (Neopomacentrus cyanomos)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/regal-damselfish)
- [Reticulated Damselfish (Pomacentrus trichourus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/reticulated-damselfish)
- [Scissortail Sergeant (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/scissortail-sergeant)
- [Slender Damselfish (Pomacentrus leptus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/slender-damselfish)
- [Sulphur Damselfish (Pomacentrus sulfureus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/sulphur-damselfish)
- [Threeline Damselfish (Pomacentrus trilineatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/threeline-damselfish)
- [Tree-spot Dascylus (Dascyllus trimaculatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/tree-spot-dascylus)
- [Triplespot Chromis (Chromis trialpha)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/triplespot-chromis)
- [Weber's Chromis (Chromis weberi)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/webers-chromis)
- [Whitebar Damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/whitebar-damselfish)
- [Whitetail Damselfish (Pomacentrus albicaudatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/whitetail-damselfish)
- [Yellow-Edge Chromis (Chromis pembae)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/yellow-edge-chromis)
- [Yellow-side Damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/yellow-side-damselfish)
- [Yellowtail Damselfish (Neopomacentrus flavicauda)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae/yellowtail-damselfish)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/pomacentridae)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*