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Related FAQs: Neoglyphidodon, Damsel Identification, Damsel Selection, Damsel Compatibility, Damsel Feeding, Damsel DiseaseDamsel Reproduction

Related Articles: Ugly Swans Some cute little damsels that grow into ugly terrors By Steven Pro The family Pomacentridae, the Damselfishes

/A Diversity of Aquatic Life

A Genus of Changeling Damselfishes,  Neoglyphidodon

By Bob Fenner

   Neoglyphidodon crossi juvenile

Species/Notes of Interest to Aquarists:

This genus is notable for their beauty as juveniles, turning to drab adults. 

Neoglyphidodon carlsoni (Allen 1975), Carlson's Damsel. Known only from Fiji presently. To four inches in length. Pictured is a somber adult where (Bruce) Carlson reigns, the Waikiki Aquarium, Hawai'i. Oh, now retired, sometimes in O'ahu, otherwise out traveling.

Neoglyphidodon crossi Allen 1991, Cross' Damsel. Indo-Malayan Archipelago: known only from Sulawesi and the Molucca Islands. To four inches. Aquarium and Raja Ampat images. 

Neoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier 1830), the Black Damsel. Indo-west Pacific, Red Sea, eastern Africa to Vanuatu. To five inches total length. An all black beauty as an adult, resembling the Black Dwarf Angel, Centropyge nox in profile. Juvenile in Australia's GBR  and adult in Malaysia  pictured.

Verticals (Full/Cover Page Sizes Available
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Neoglyphidodon nigroris (Cuvier 1830), Behn's Damsel. Western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. To three and a half inches in length. The bright yellow and two horizontal black band juveniles are used quite often in the trade. At right a juv. in captivity. Below: juvenile off Heron Island, Australia. and subadult in Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia.  
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Neoglyphidodon oxyodon (Bleeker 1858), the most commonly named "Jewel Damsel" in the aquarium interest is called the Javanese Damsel to science. Indo-Australian Archipelago. To six inches total length, and a tough customer nearing larger size. 

Neoglyphidodon polyacanthus (Ogilby 1889), the Multispine Damselfish. To five and a half inches in length. The smallest juveniles of this species are good-looking all yellow with a bold blue line and ocellus. Pictured are a sub-adult and adult in Fiji.

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Neoglyphidodon thoracotaeniatus (Fowler & Bean 1928), the Banded Damsel. Western Central Pacific. To a bit over three inches in length. This one in Pulau Redang, Malaysia.

Verticals (Full/Cover Page Sizes Available)
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Bibliography/Further Reading:

Allen, Gerald R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications, Neptune City, N.J.

Allen, Gerald R. 1976. How many sergeant majors? Marine Aquarist 7(6):76.

Allen, Gerald R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Aquarium Systems, Mentor, Ohio.

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 1978. The Biology of the Damselfishes a symposium held during the

 56th annual meeting of the ASIH. Rosentiel School of Mar. & Atm. Sci. U. of Miami, 1980, 145-328.

Bunn, D., 1987. Spawning the Dusky Damsel. Aquarist Pondkpr. 52(1):41

Fenner, Bob & Cindi Camp, 1991. Damselfishes, saltwater bread and butter. FAMA 10/91.

Fenner, Robert. 1998. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Microcosm, VT. 432pp.

Fenner, Robert. 1999. The indomitable damsels- Family Pomacentridae. TFH 1/99.

Flood, A. Colin. 1992. Thos darling damsels. TFH 8/92.

Gronell, A.M., 1984. Look-alike damsels. TFH 32(8) 48-53.

Pearson, Scott. 1993. On photographing the feisty damsels. Sea Frontiers May/June 93.

Thresher, R.E., P.L. Colin & Lori J. Bell. 1989. Planktonic duration, distribution and population structure of western and central Pacific damselfishes (Pomacentridae). Copeia 1989(2), pp. 420-434.


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