At the first hint of trouble, a little black-and-white colony disappears between the coral branches.
- Local names
- ‘Atoti
- Habitat
- Lagoon and reef
About this species
Three broad black bands cross this small damselfish. Most are around 6 cm or less, though individuals up to 10 cm have been recorded. It lives in shallow lagoon and outer-slope habitats, sheltering within branching corals such as Acropora.
The size of the coral determines how many fish it can house. The colony stays close enough to retreat quickly between the branches when alarmed.
Algae and plankton both feature in its varied diet. During courtship, a male displays to a female in a swimming dance, usually about a metre above the nest.
P. Bacchet, T. Zysman, Y. Lefèvre, 2010. Guide des poissons de Tahiti et ses îles. Au vent des îles. 3e édition. http://doris.ffessm.fr/Especes/Dascyllus-aruanus-Demoiselle-a-trois-bandes-noires-1111
