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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Family Pomacentridae
Threespot damselfish
Pomacentrus tripunctatus

Family Pomacentridae
updated Oct 2020
Where seen? This dark fish with electric blue markings is sometimes seen on some of our shores among coral rubble and near living reefs. Elsewhere, it is found in shallow bays and silty coastal reefs and other 'dead' areas, up to 3m deep. Usually alone, in holes of small rocks on sandy bottoms with coral rubble.

Features: To about 20cm, those seen about 12-15cm long. Adults dull greenish black or dark grey with a blue-edged black spot on the upper tail base, usually seen under rocks at low tide. Juveniles may have an additional blue-edged black spot on the soft parts of the dorsal fin and blue lines on the head and back.

Tiny juvenile.
Cyrene, Apr 08

Juvenile.
Tanah Merah, Jun 11

Adult.
Tuas, Apr 05

Juvenile.
Tanah Merah, Jun 11
Tiny but tough: Tiny juveniles 2-3cm long can have electric blue lines (although these little fishes may also be the juveniles of Pomacentrus cuneatus or Pomacentrus cheraphilus). These tiny fishes seem to be territorial and swim in jerky darting movements around their 'turf'.

What does it eat? It eats mainly algae growing on the sea bottom.
Threespot damselfish (Pomacentrus tripunctatus)

Threespot damselfishes on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Changi-Loyang, Jul 20
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

Pulau Sekudu, May 18
Photo shared by Dayna Cheah on facebook.

Pulau Sekudu, May 12
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.


Tanah Merah, Aug 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

Tanah Merah, Sep 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.


East Coast Park (PCN), Aug 22
Photo shared by Che Cheng Neo on facebook.

East Coast Park (B), Jun 21
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.
 


Berlayar Creek, Oct 17
Photo shared by Abel Yeo on facebook.

Terumbu Semakau, May 19
Photo shared by Liz Lim on facebook.


Terumbu Raya, May 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his flickr.

Pulau Semakau, Aug 14
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.


Pulau Jong, Aug 18
Photo shared by Liz Lim on facebook
 


Terumbu Pempang Tengah, May 11
Photo shared by Sam Yeo on facebook

Pulau Biola, May 10
Photo shared by Marcus Ng on flickr.
 

Acknowledgements
Identification of blue juveniles with grateful thanks to Jeffrey Low of NParks Biodiversity Centre.

Links

References

  • Daisuke Taira & Amanda Rouwen Hsiung. 31 August 2020. The silty damselfish, Pomacentrus cheraphilus, in Singapore. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2020: 119-120 ISSN 2345-7597
  • Allen, Gerry, 2000. Marine Fishes of South-East Asia: A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Periplus Editions. 292 pp.
  • Lieske, Ewald and Robert Myers. 2001. Coral Reef Fishes of the World Periplus Editions. 400pp.
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