About Dascyllus melanurus Bleeker, 1854
Nomenclature
This species, commonly known as the four striped damselfish, has the scientific name Dascyllus melanurus Bleeker, 1854, and this scientific name is also a less frequently used label for the species.
Distribution
Four striped damselfish are commonly found in the Indo-Australian Archipelago and western Caroline Islands, which includes Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Habitat and Depth
They inhabit sheltered inshore habitats, where they associate with isolated coral heads, and can be found at depths down to 33 feet.
Territorial Behavior
Like all damselfish, four striped damselfish can be territorial and aggressive, and this tendency becomes more pronounced as they age.
Size
They typically reach a grown size of about three or four inches.
Diet
They are omnivores, feeding on a range of items from algae to small fish or shrimp.
Coloration
Their body coloration is made up of three alternating black and white vertical bands, with a fourth black band that ends at the tail.
