Species: Microspathodon chrysurus, Yellowtail Damselfish

Microspathodon chrysurus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830)

Yellowtail Damselfish

Body deep, oblong, thick, compressed; 1 pair of nostrils; preorbital bone (before & under front of eye) very broad, deep, with pronounced notch over top jaw; margins of preopercle and suborbital bone under rear of eye smooth, scaled; mouth small, protrusible, opens at front; teeth in single row, thick upper teeth flexible, forming a brush, lower jaw teeth in 1 row, stout, incisors; a single continuous dorsal fin, XII, 14-15 rays; anal fin II, 12-13; no projecting short spines at upper and lower base of tail fin; caudal fin bluntly forked; scales are moderately large and rough; body scaled, head largely scaled, as are the basal parts of the median fins; lateral line incomplete, ends under end of dorsal fin base; lateral line scales 20-22.

Adult: head and body grey-brown, usually with scattered iridescent blue spots on upper part; tail fin paler than body and often yellow. Juvenile: dark blue with scattered intensely iridescent blue spots; clear or yellow tail fin.

Reaches 21 cm.

Coral and rock reefs.

Depth range: 0-62 m, usually in 1-10 m depth.

Bermuda to Brazil.