The three stripe damselfish goes by many names.
It is a marine fish that is primarily found
across the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans
in shallow coral reefs and lagoons.
They are common on the Great Barrier Reef.
Their vertical black and white stripes are
used as a way of camouflage called disruptive
coloration.
This camouflage works by breaking up the outlines
of an animal, making them harder to be seen.
Three stripe damselfish are rarely found alone.
They like to live in groups of about 30 individuals
in water 3 to 40 ft deep (1 to 12 m) deep.
They take shelter among branching coral.
They fiercely guard their territories from
predators.
Three stripe damselfish forage in the water
column on zooplankton.
They also eat benthic invertebrates and algae.
One male can spawn with several females.
Each female will deposit up to 2000 eggs in
a nest.
Males guard the eggs, fan the eggs and keep
away debris.
Eggs hatch into larvae after 3 to 5 days and
begin to drift with the currents.
Larvae feed on plankton.
The pelagic larval stage lasts 16 to 24 days.
Juveniles are likely to settle near corals
that already house their species or a similar
species.
Three stripe damselfish can grow to about 4 in (10
cm) long.
They are popular in aquariums.
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