Two-Spot Demoiselle

Chrysiptera biocellata

The two-spot demoiselle (Chrysiptera biocellata), also called the twinspot damselfish, is a small, attractive reef fish reaching up to 12 cm. It has a brownish body with two prominent dark ocelli (eye-spots) on the upper body and dorsal fin. Found across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the western Pacific, it inhabits coral rubble, rocky reef areas, and algae-covered substrates at depths of 1 to 12 meters. This territorial species aggressively defends small patches of algae that it cultivates for food, chasing away much larger fish and even approaching divers. It feeds on algae and small invertebrates within its territory. Its bold personality despite its small size, combined with the distinctive twin spots, makes it an entertaining and identifiable reef resident.