Brazilian Damselfish

Stegastes fuscus

The Brazilian damselfish is a small reef fish that typically reaches a length of around 10 cm, although it can grow up to 15 cm. Adult fish display a color palette ranging from brownish-olive to dark grey, often with fine vertical stripes. Their dorsal and anal fins are large, sometimes edged with a blue rim. The juvenile Brazilian damselfish are distinctively pearly grey with blue spots on their heads and have characteristic eyespots on their dorsal fin and caudal peduncle. This species is predominantly found in the western Atlantic, particularly off the coast of Brazil. It inhabits shallow waters, frequenting both rocky and coral reefs at depths up to 40 meters, although they are most commonly found between 1 to 15 meters. The Brazilian damselfish is territorial and known for its aggressive behavior in defending its feeding grounds, which are rich in algae. The diet of the Brazilian damselfish mainly consists of algae, including red filamentous and calcareous types, supplemented by small invertebrates. During breeding, they exhibit distinct pairing, with males taking on the role of guarding and aerating the eggs that are laid on substrates. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.