Galapagos damsel (Azurina eupalama)

Scientific name: Azurina eupalama Heller & Snodgrass, 1903

The Galapagos damsel (Azurina eupalama) is a marine fish of the family Pomacentridae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, Cocos and the Galapagos Islands. This species has not been seen since the 1982/83 El Ni?o event.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Color olive-gray with a light-blue tint, silver on the ventral side; snout dusky, a black spot at pectoral fin base; pale gray pelvic and anal fins, dusky dorsal fin. Body more slender compared to other Gal?pagos damselfish. Preorbital bone smooth without a notchlike projection; edge of preopercle irregular, weakly serrate. Lateral line complete and conspicuous.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Azurina eupalama
Family: Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 15.0
Depth range: 5–30 m (16–98 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 30 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Central Pacific: Cocos and the Galapagos Islands. This species has not been seen since the 1982/83 El Ni?o event.
Conservation status (IUCN): Critically Endangered (CR) (B1ab(i,ii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iv,v))
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026