Pomacentridae is a family of ray-finned fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. This family were formerly placed in the order Perciformes or as indeterminate percomorphs, but are now considered basal blenniiforms.
They are primarily marine, while a few species inhabit freshwater and brackish environments (e.g., Neopomacentrus aquadulcis, N. taeniurus, Pomacentrus taeniometopon, Stegastes otophorus). They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality. Many are brightly colored, so they are popular in aquaria.
Taxonomy
Around 385 species are classified in this family, in about 31 genera. Of these, members of two genera, Amphiprion and Premnas, are commonly called clownfish or anemonefish, while members of other genera (e.g., Pomacentrus) are commonly called damselfish.
The members of this family were traditionally classified in four subfamilies: Amphiprioninae, Chrominae, Lepidozyginae, and Pomacentrinae., although more recent phylogenetic analyses instead support the four subfamilies Chrominae, Glyphisodontinae, Microspathodontinae, and Pomacentrinae, with the clownfishes nested within the latter subfamily.
The earliest known fossil damselfish is †Chaychanus from the Early Paleocene of Chiapas, Mexico.
Etymology
The name of the family is derived from the Greek words; poma roughly translates to the English "cover", referring to the fishes' opercula, and kentron is Greek for sting. The name refers to the serrations found along the margins of the opercular bones in many members of this family. The remaining species are found in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific. Some species are native to freshwater or brackish estuarine environments.
Most members of the family live in shallow water, from in depth, although some species (e.g., Chromis abyssus) are found below . Most species are specialists, living in specific parts of the reef, such as sandy lagoons, steep reef slopes, or areas exposed to strong wave action. In general, the coral is used as shelter, and many species can only survive in its presence.
Pomacentrids have an orbiculate to elongated body shape, which is often laterally compressed. They have interrupted or incomplete lateral lines and they usually have a single nostril on each side (some species of Chromis and Dascyllus have two on each side). Clownfish also have mutualistic relationships with anemones. The anemone protects the clownfish while the clownfish rids parasites.
Lifecycle
Before breeding, the males clear an area of algae and invertebrates to create a nest. They engage in ritualised courtship displays, which may consist of rapid bursts of motion, chasing or nipping females, stationary hovering, or wide extension of their fins. After being attracted to the site, the female lays a string of sticky eggs that attach to the substrate. The male swims behind the female as she lays the eggs, and fertilises them externally. Varying by species, brood sizes range from 50 to 1000 eggs. When they arrive at a suitable environment, the young settle and adopt their juvenile colors.
Other authorities recognise 4 subfamilies and classify the family as follows:
- Subfamily Chrominae
- Azurina
- Chromis
- Dascyllus
- Pycnochromis <small>Fowler, 1941</small>
- Subfamily Glyphisodontinae
- Abudefduf
- Subfamily Microspathodontinae
- Lepidozygus
- Mecaenichthys
- Parma
- Plectroglyphidodon
- Stegastes
- Tribe Microspathodontini
- Hypsypops
- Microspathodon
- Nexilosus
- Similiparma
- Subfamily Pomacentrinae
- Tribe Amphiprionini
- Amphiprion
- Premnas
- Tribe Cheiloprionini
- Cheiloprion
- Chrysiptera
- Dischistodus
- Pomachromis
- Tribe Hemiglyphidodontini
- Acanthochromis
- Altrichthys
- Amblyglyphidodon
- Hemiglyphidodon
- Neoglyphidodon
- Tribe Pomacentrini
- Amblypomacentrus
- Neopomacentrus
- Pomacentrus
- Pristotis
- Teixeirichthys
- †Palaeopomacentrus
<gallery style="text-align:center;" mode="packed">
Image:Abudefduf sexfasciatus Réunion.jpg|Abudefduf sexfasciatus
Image:Acanthochromis polyacanthus.jpg|Acanthochromis polyacanthus
Image:Amblyglyphidodon curacao.jpg|Amblyglyphidodon curacao
Image:Green.chromis.arp.jpg|Chromis viridis
Image:Crysiptera_hemicyanea.jpg|Chrysiptera hemicyanea
Image:Dascyllus trimaculatus Réunion.jpg|Dascyllus trimaculatus
Image:Hypsypops_rubicundus_adult.jpg|Hypsypops rubicundus
Image:Yellowtail damselfish Microspathodon chrysurus (4657125482).jpg|Microspathodon chrysurus
Image:Neoglyphidodon melas.jpg|Neoglyphidodon melas
Image:Parma_kermadecensis_%28Kermadec_scalyfin%29.jpg|Parma kermadecensis
Image:Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus Réunion.JPG|Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus
Image:Pomacentrus caeruleopunctatus Réunion.jpg|Pomacentrus caeruleus
Image:Maroon Clown Fish444.jpg|Premnas biaculeatus
Image:Stegastes nigricans.JPG|Stegastes nigricans
</gallery>
References
External links
- Smith, J.L.B. 1960. Coral fishes of the family Pomacentridae from the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 19. Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
- Species inventory of Pomacentridae from New Caledonia.