TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Subfamily: Pomacentrinae

Genus/species: Chromis viridis

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adults are iridescent apple-green and light blue. Courting males develop blackish dorsal rays and upper pectoral rays. Caudal fin deeply forked with very long, trailing tips.

Length up to 9 cm (3.5inches)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific.among reef flats, shallow lagoons, sheltered seaward reefs to 12 m (39 ft). Huge aggregations above branching corals, often well above the bottom. Swarms of juveniles occur above smaller isolated coral heads.

DIET IN THE WILD: Plankton.

REPRODUCTION: Oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding. Elliptical demersal eggs are guarded by the male.

PREDATORS: In sunlight C. viridis blends with the blue of the water. In UV light it glows allowing individuals to see each other but remain invisible to most predators.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List Not Evaluated

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium  Philippine Coral Reef and Defenses Cluster 2016

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608339622313/with/5268900171/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Gg