Acanthochromis polyacanthus
Spiny Puller
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, adult, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, juvenile, Photo: Graham Edgar
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, adult, Great Keppel Is, Qld, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, juvenile, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Acanthochromis polyacanthus, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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 Generalization Index: 25.36
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.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Widespread (50.5% 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.