Dascyllus melanurus

Dascyllus melanurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Pomacentridae
Genus:	Dascyllus
Species:	D. melanurus
Binomial name
Dascyllus melanurus Bleeker, 1854

Dascyllus melanurus, known commonly as the four stripe damselfish, blacktail dascyllus, humbug damselfish, blacktail damselfish, and blacktail humbug, is a species of fish in the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean. It is sometimes kept as an aquarium pet.

Description

The four striped damselfish is commonly found in Indo-Australian Archipelago and western Caroline Islands including Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef of Australia. They are found at depths down to 33 feet, and it is associated with isolated coral heads in sheltered inshore habitats. Like all damselfish, they can be territorial and aggressive, especially as they get older. Four-striped Damselfish typically grow to about three or four inches. The less common species name is Dascyllus Melanurus. They are also omnivores they eat anything ranging from algae to small fish or shrimp. Three alternating black and white vertical bands make up the body coloration with a fourth black band ending at the tail.

Ecology

Behavior

It travels in schools. It feeds on fish eggs, crustacean larvae, algae, ostracods, amphipods, copepods, and tunicates.

In Popular Culture

Deb, a slightly neurotic four stripe damselfish who think the reflection on the fish tank is actually her sister, Flo, appears in the 2003 film Finding Nemo by Pixar. She also appears in the 2016 sequel Finding Dory near the end after the credits as an Easter egg.