TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Genus/species: Chromis cyanea
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The Blue Chromis body is laterally compressed with a small mouth. The color is brilliant blue; nape and back often dark. The slender tail is deeply forked has dark borders.
Length up to 15 cm (2.3 – 6 inches)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Native to Florida, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico in schools of the outer reef slopes and exposed patch reefs.
Depth 3–60 m (10-200 ft)
DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton, primarily copepods.
REPRODUCTION: Lay demersal eggs, which are guarded by the male.
PREDATORS: Preyed upon by other fishes such as grouper and trumpet fishes.
LIFESPAN: 5 years in captivity
CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)
REMARKS: Often in large aggregations retreating into coral crevices when frightened.
The Blue chromis also use olfaction and mechanoreception (lateral line) to detect water movement and vibration, and can also hear using their well-developed inner ears.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Caribbean Reef 2018
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608339622313/with/6190673709/
Ron’s WordPress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-G9
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3642
IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/165910/0
Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chromis_cyanea/
