HomeMarine aquarium fishClownfish & damselfishBowtie damselfish Bowtie damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas) Scientific name: Neoglyphidodon melas Cuvier, 1830 The Bowtie damselfish (Neoglyphidodon melas) is a marine fish of the family Pomacentridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12 - 15. Adult stage is uniformly black. Transformation from colorful juvenile to uniformly black adult stage occurs at a size of 50 to 60 mm. Large adults are bluish-black and grows rather large, reaching about 15 cm.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameNeoglyphidodon melasFamilyPomacentridae (Damselfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length18.0Depth range1–12 m (3–39 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 12 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Indo-Malayan Archipelago, Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Palau, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and northern Australia.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More clownfish & damselfishBlack-and-gold chromisNeoglyphidodon nigrorisBlackbar devilPlectroglyphidodon dickiiOnespot demoiselleChrysiptera unimaculataBrighteye damselfishPlectroglyphidodon imparipennisJohnston Island damselPlectroglyphidodon johnstonianusWhitespotted devilPlectroglyphidodon lacrymatusSee all clownfish & damselfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026