Ebony Gregory

Stegastes limbatus

The Ebony Gregory, a member of the pomacentridae family, is a small reef fish known for its distinct blue-black body color with black scale outlines. The scales on its nape and the side of its head often exhibit a blue hue, and its lips are characteristically whitish. A notable feature is a small black spot near the origin of its lateral line. Occasionally, a broad white bar may appear across the middle of its sides, which might be linked to courtship behavior. This species reaches a maximum length of 15 cm. The Ebony Gregory is found in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically around Madagascar, Reunion, and Mauritius. It inhabits the surge zones of inshore boulder areas at shallow depths ranging from 0 to 2 meters. This fish is non-migratory and closely associated with reef environments. Reproduction in the Ebony Gregory involves distinct pairing during breeding. The species is oviparous, with eggs that adhere to the substrate. Males play a crucial role in guarding and aerating the eggs until they hatch. Currently, there is no evaluation of its conservation status by the IUCN, and it poses no threat to humans.