Three-spot Dascyllus

ID points

• Three white spots on a black body: one on the forehead, two on the sides
• The white spots fade with growth, turning an even dark grey
• Juveniles often shelter among anemones or long-spined sea urchins

Basics

Family

Pomacentridae

Length

8–14 cm

Depth

1-55 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Habitat

Reefs with anemones and urchins

Diet

Zooplankton, algae

Easily confused with

Humbug DamselfishThree straight broad black vertical bands on a white groundClark's AnemonefishBody black to dark brown with three broad white bandsClownfishOrange body with three broad white bands, each edged in black

Fun fact

Juveniles are black with three white spots. As the fish matures the black fades to a greyish brown and the white spots gradually disappear.

More in this family

• Blue-green Chromis
• Damselfish
• Garibaldi
• Maroon Clownfish
• Sergeant Major
• Tomato Clownfish