About Plectroglyphidodon dickii (Liénard, 1839)
Common Name and Size
Plectroglyphidodon dickii, commonly known as Dick's damselfish, reaches an adult body length of approximately 9 to 11 centimeters, or 3.5 to 4.3 inches.
Body Shape and Fin Structure
Individuals of this species have a compact, stocky body, with 12 dorsal spines, 16 to 18 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines, and 14 to 16 anal soft rays.
Base Body Coloration
The base body color of this damselfish is primarily light brown, with distinctly visible scales. A small vertical black stripe crosses the rear of the body, located just in front of the caudal region.
Eye Markings
The eyes have light blue rings and light purple markings.
Paired and Dorsal Fin Coloration
The dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are yellow-orange or light brown.
Caudal Fin Coloration
The caudal fin is most often white, and more rarely orange, with a transparent blue-tinted fringe along its rear edge.
Additional Body Markings
The operculum sometimes has a purplish tint, and the caudal peduncle may be either white or orange.
Broad Distribution Range
This species is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from East Africa eastward to the Line Islands and Tuamotu. Its distribution extends north to Japan, south to Australia, and as far east as French Polynesia.
Habitat Type
These are tropical, marine, reef-associated damselfish.
Reef Habitat Preferences
They live in shallow coral reefs, particularly areas with branching corals, in zones with high wave action. They can be found in clear lagoon waters and on seaward reefs, at depths between 1 and 15 meters.
Associated Coral Genera
They are most commonly associated with Pocillopora or Acropora corals.
