Reticulated dascyllus

Scientific name : Dascyllus reticulatus

Small damsel, with deep, almost round body. Grey colour, the dark edge of scales makes a reticulated colour pattern. Two vertical black bands, behind the head and at the beginning of tail peduncle, very prominent in the young specimens tend to fade in the adults. 9 cm. Living in shoals close to the corals, in lagoon, back reef, reef front. It feeds on Plankton but also benthic invertebrates and algae. An almost identical species, Dascyllus carneus, lives in the Indian ocean.
Due to the colour pattern, it is somehow symilar to Chromis retrofasciata, that can be found close to branching corals. Distinguished by the reticulated pattern on the sides and by the vertical bar behind the head.
Another fish sharing a similar colour pattern is the juvenile butterfly fish Chaetodon trifascialis. There is an advantage for the butterfly fish in being similar to the damsel fishes, living in shoals in the same environment: to be unobserved by predators. An animal similar to those around easily goes unnoticed, a very different one calls for attention. In the larger specimens, the black bands fade away, leaving only the reticulated colour pattern.

Associated organisms
Associated with branching corals, Pocillopora or Acropora. When threatened it looks for shelter amongst the branches.