Scientific Name
Abudefduf vaigiensis

Common Name
Indo-Pacific sergeant

Biology
Adults inhabit upper edge of outer reef slopes and inshore rocky reefs. Juveniles associated with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on zooplankton, benthic algae, and small invertebrates (Ref. 1602). Often in aggregations (Ref. 9710), in large numbers at spawning sites that are timed with large tides that carry their pelagic offspring far offshore (Ref. 48636). 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).

Classification

Classified By

Quoy & Gaimard, 1825

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and eastern Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Often confused with the closely related Atlantic species Abudefduf saxatilis (Ref. 7247). Replaced by Abudefduf abdominalis in the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 37816).

Range

36°N - 39°S, 26°E - 143°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

15 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 15 m (Ref. 30874)

Trophic Level

2.59 s.e. 0.35 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

20.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (16 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.85)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated