Chromis atripectoralis Welander & Schultz, 1951
Black-axil chromis
Black-axil chromis,  Palata
Chromis atripectoralis
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Pomacentridae (Damselfishes), subfamily: Chrominae
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 29 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: most islands of Oceania except Hawaiian Islands, Marquesas, and Pitcairn Group; also Australia north to the Ryukyu Islands. In the Indian Ocean, there are confirmed records Seychelles, Thailand and Western Australia. Often confused with Chromis viridis.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Description: Head and body pale green. Body depth 2.0-2.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults inhabit clear lagoons, passages, and seaward reef slopes, in thickets of live or dead coral. They occur in large aggregations feeding above staghorn Acropora corals (Ref. 9710). Stomach contents of individuals examined included mainly copepods, amphipods, and zoea. Diurnal species (Ref. 54980; 113699). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2022 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Recorded from Lanuza Bay (Ref. 104756), and Bantayan Is. in northern Cebu (Ref. 114734). Also Ref. 48613, 53416, 121724.


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