HomeMarine aquarium fishClownfish & damselfishDusky damselfish Dusky damselfish (Stegastes adustus) Scientific name: Stegastes adustus Troschel, 1865 The Dusky damselfish (Stegastes adustus) is a marine fish of the family Pomacentridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Juveniles are reddish orange above, with small bright blue spots on forehead and dark spots at upper pectoral fin base, dorsal fin, and caudal peduncle; colors disappear as fish grows larger. Adults dark gray to blackish with vertical black lines on body; a black spot, sometimes diffuse, at upper base of pectoral fins which are pale; other fins dark.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameStegastes adustusFamilyPomacentridae (Damselfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range0–3 m (0–10 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 3 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Central Atlantic: Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and along the coast of central America to Panama and Venezuela. Also known from the Bahamas and the Antilles.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More clownfish & damselfishYellowtip damselfishStegastes pictusSouthseas devilChrysiptera taupouCoral demoiselleNeopomacentrus nemurusIndonesian damselPomacentrus melanochirBluestreak damselfishNeoglyphidodon oxyodonMarginate dascyllusDascyllus marginatusSee 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