Speckled Damselfish

Pomacentrus bankanensis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Pomacentrus
Species: Pomacentrus bankanensis

The speckled damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) is a small damsel with a speckled head, a white tail and a dark eyespot on its dorsal fin. Its body is brownish with fine blue or pale spots, especially on the head.

It grows to around 9 cm and lives on shallow reef flats and rubble areas, staying close to the bottom. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates and is quick to defend its patch against intruders.

The speckled damselfish is found in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is common on shallow reefs and rubble.

Photo: libby hepburn, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist