About Stegastes apicalis (De Vis, 1885)
Taxonomic Classification
This species is currently classified as Stegastes apicalis (De Vis, 1885), and was previously described under the scientific name Plectroglyphidodon apicalis.
Common Name & Family
It is a damselfish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, and is commonly called the Australian gregory or yellowtip gregory.
Australian Distribution
It is native to the Western Pacific Ocean, where it is found along the east coast of Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, and New South Wales.
Additional Range Records
It has also been recorded from Taiwan and Ouvéa Island in the Loyalty Islands.
Body & Fin Coloration
The body of this fish is dark brown, with red or yellow margins along the caudal and dorsal fins.
Melanin Composition
Its dark brown color comes from melanosomes that contain some pheomelanin, unlike most fish species, whose melanin is primarily eumelanin.
