Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, XIII + 13-14; A, II + 13; P, 13; V, I + 5; LL, 20; GR, 25  photo : A.Vella

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body deep and compressed. Small head with terminal mouth, with series of close-set teeth in a single row. No teeth on the vomer or palatine. Head profile almost straight. Long and continuous dorsal fin, the base of the spine portion longer than the ray portion. Anal fin slightly pointed. Caudal fin forked. Upper rays of pectoral fin long and decreasing in size. First ray of pelvic fin moderately elongated. color : Body and fins blue with four faded vertical dark bars on the body. size : 8-15 cm (max 20 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The color pattern distinguishes this species from all Mediterranean fish species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on zooplankton. Live in pairs during the spawning season. Eggs are demersal and guarded by the male. habitat : Lives in the vicinity of coastal rocky reefs.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Malta 2014 (Vella et al 2016) DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Eastern Atlantic Ocean from Senegal to Benin Mediterranean : Malta ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, a single specimen collected in Malta   MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably via Gibraltar or by shipping IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None

KEY REFERENCES ‏Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Melle, Germany. Mergus Publishers. 271 pp. ‏Vella, A., Vella, N and Darmanin, A. 2016. The first record of the African sergeant, Abudefduf hoefleri (Perciformes: Pomacentridae, in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biodiversity Records 9(15), 5 pp. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet : January 2017 © ciesm 2001