Sergeant major
Abudefduf saxatilis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description:
Body laterally flattened, oval in profile, upper body usually yellow, occasionally with shades of green to blue, and white to bluish silver or light gray below. Body with five black body bars. The upper lip does not overhang the lower one.
Juveniles with a yellow upper body and dorsal fin, silvery below. Body with five body bars.
Size up to 23 cm.
Habitat:
Found over shallow reef tops, down to 15 m. Adults frequently form large feeding aggregations of up to several hundred individuals. Food items include algae, small crustaceans, fish and various invertebrate larvae. Adult males adopt a bluish ground color when guarding eggs. Juveniles are common in tide pools.
Distribution:
Abundant Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
The body of the Night sergeant (Abudefduf taurus) has hues of brown and five dark body bars. The upper lip of this species slightly overhangs the lower one.