Scientific Name
Stegastes nigricans

Common Name
Dusky farmerfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Adults generally brown; dorsal part of head and nape darker, grading to tan on lower part of head and breast. The scales have darker brown margins. The lips are whitish lips; the suborbital is mostly blue; the preopercle and opercle scales with blue centers. The median and pelvic fins are brown; the pectorals are dusky; a well-defined dark brown or blackish spot is sometimes present at base of posteriormost dorsal rays, which distinguishes it from S. lividus where the spot is diffuse. Males in courtship or guarding eggs with broad white bar across middle of body and pale blue stripe from mouth to upper part of pectoral fin.

Classification

Classified By

Lacep?de, 1802

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin islands, south to New Caledonia and Tonga; throughout Micronesia. Excluding the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 7247).

Range

30°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

12 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 12 m (Ref. 7247)

Trophic Level

2.22 s.e. 0.18 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

14.0 cm

Common Length

9.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (13 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.5-1.1)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 510)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated