dusky damselfish
Stegastes adustus
Small dark damselfish of rocky shores battered by waves and tide pools. It is of no interest for the line, but sometimes gets caught in traps and beach nets.
Also called: donzela-escura, jaqueta prieta, chopita prieta, dusky damselfish
- maximum
- 15 cm
- depth
- 0–3 m
who is the dusky damselfish
The dusky damselfish is a Pomacentridae fish that reaches 15 cm. It lives on rocky shores exposed to waves and in tide pools, from 0 to 3 m deep. It eats mainly algae and detritus. It is territorial and pugnacious. During spawning it forms well-defined pairs, and the male guards and aerates the eggs, which stick to the bottom. It is a common fish, but it is only caught by chance in traps and beach nets, with no interest for rod fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the dusky damselfish.
fun facts
- The male guards and aerates the eggs.
- It is aggressive toward other fish in its territory.
identification
Adults are dark gray to black, with vertical black lines on the body. They have a black spot, sometimes diffuse, at the upper base of the pectoral fins, which are pale, and the other fins are dark. Juveniles are reddish orange on top, with bright blue spots on the forehead and dark marks at the base of the pectoral and dorsal fins and on the caudal peduncle; these colors fade as they grow. It lives in tide pools and on rocks battered by waves.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It occurs in the western Atlantic, from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to Panama and Venezuela, including the Bahamas and the Antilles. In Latin America it is found in Mexico, Central America, the Antilles and Venezuela.
Habitat: Rocky shores battered by waves and tide pools, 0 to 3 m.
rules for the dusky damselfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It is harmless to handle. Since it is small and of no interest to the line, release whatever gets into the net by chance.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02042, b = 2.98; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Stegastes adustus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Stegastes adustusNames by country and language.