Abudefduf bengalensis (Bloch, 1787)

Common Name and Taxonomy

Abudefduf bengalensis, commonly called the Bengal sergeant or the narrow-banded sergeant major, is a damselfish species that belongs to the family Pomacentridae.

Native Range

This is a marine species native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Its distribution extends from the eastern Indian Ocean to Australia and Japan within the Pacific Ocean. Even though it has a wide range across the Indian Ocean, the Bengal sergeant has not been recorded living in the Red Sea.

Habitat and Depth

Adult individuals of this species usually live in coral reef and lagoon habitats at depths between 1 and 6 meters (3 to 20 feet), and they are most often found alone or in small groups.

Diet

Bengal sergeants feed mainly on algae, gastropods, and crabs.

Territoriality and Breeding

This species is known to be highly territorial, and it forms distinct breeding pairs during the breeding season. It is oviparous, meaning male individuals guard and aerate the species' eggs after laying.

Maximum Size

Fully grown members of this species reach a total length of 17 centimeters (6.7 inches).