HomeMarine aquarium fishClownfish & damselfishThreespot dascyllus Threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus) Scientific name: Dascyllus trimaculatus R?ppell, 1829 The Threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus) is a marine fish of the family Pomacentridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15. Juveniles overall black with scale centers bluish; white blotch on forehead and upper sides; all fins black except the transparent pectoral and outer portion of soft dorsal rays. Geographic and behavioral color of adults variable; no spot on forehead; spot on upper sides very reduced; head and fins normally black; scales with black margins. Margins of preorbital, suborbital and preoperculum finely serrated.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameDascyllus trimaculatusFamilyPomacentridae (Damselfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length11.0Depth range1–55 m (3–180 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 55 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan, south to Sydney, Australia. Not found in the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec=20,000-25,000) More clownfish & damselfishReticulate dascyllusDascyllus reticulatusBlacktail humbugDascyllus melanurusWhitetail dascyllusDascyllus aruanusLined chromisChromis lineataTwinspot chromisChromis eleraeDark-fin chromisChromis atripesSee 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