Scissortail Sergeant Major
Abudefduf sexfasciatus
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 4,502
- Most observed in
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The scissortail sergeant or striptailed damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus) is a large damselfish in the family Pomacentridae. It earns its name from the black-striped tail and sides, which are reminiscent of the insignia of a military Sergeant, being similar to those of the sergeant major damselfish. It grows to a length of about 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Scissortail sergeants live on coral reefs at depths of up to 15 metres (50 ft) in tropical reaches, often living in a group surrounding a single head of coral. They are found on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea. The fish feed upon the larvae of invertebrates, zooplankton, smaller fishes, crustaceans, and various species of algae. They are preyed upon by some members of the Labridae and Serranidae families. They lay their eggs in patches on a firm substrate and guard them vigorously till they hatch.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Scissortail sergeant”.