Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Pomacentridae
Spiny Puller
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Adult. Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Adult. Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Juvenile. Photo: Graham Edgar
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Juvenile. Photo: Graham Edgar
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Adult, Great Keppel Is, Qld, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Adult, Great Keppel Is, Qld, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Juvenile, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Juvenile, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Halfway Is, Qld, Photo: Andrew Green
    Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Halfway Is, Qld, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Highly variable colour pattern, with combinations of white, black, and grey. Similar body shape to Abudefduf whitleyi (Whitley's sergeant) but lacks vertical bars. The only damselfish known to hatch juveniles that remain associated with the parents for several weeks. Localised colour patterns due to a lack of a pelagic larval stage.
Information
  • Max Size: 14 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 20.3-31.3°C
  • Depth: 1-65m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 25.4
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • Threats: Exploitation
  • IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
  • Occurrence: Widespread (50% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Many (72 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
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