Chromis limbata
| Chromis limbata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Family: | Pomacentridae |
| Genus: | Chromis |
| Species: | C. limbata
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| Binomial name | |
| Chromis limbata (Valenciennes, 1833)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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The Azores chromis or Atlantic chromis (Chromis limbata) is a species of damselfish from the family Pomacentridae which is found in the Macaronesian Islands of the temperate eastern Atlantic Ocean and has been reported from coastal regions of western Africa.
Description[edit]
Chromis limbata is greyish-brown in colour with a dark dorsal fin, anal fin and distal margin of the caudal fin, with its proximate part being whitish. When spawning, the male develops a slightly purple hue as its courtship colours.[3] It has a large eye and a strongly protractile mouth which reaches the vertical from eye. There are three rows of small canine-like teeth on the jaws.[4] The dorsal fin has 14 spines and 11-12 soft rays while the anal fin has 2 spines and 10-12 soft rays.[5] It grows to 12 cm (4.7 in) standard length.[5]
Distribution[edit]
Chromis limbata occurs in the Azores and Madeira which are part of Portugal and in the Canary Islands, Spain. It has also been reported off the coast of western Africa from Senegal to Pointe Noire, Congo.[5] It is apparently replaced in the Cape Verde Islands by the endemic Lubbock's chromis (Chromis lubbocki). Small numbers of C. limbata have been recorded off islands in Santa Catarina in southern Brazil and these may be vagrants or may have been introduced through discharge of ships' ballast water.[6][1]
Biology[edit]
The adults of Chromis limbata occur in rocky reefs and sandy-weedy areas, with a depth range of 5–45 metres (16–148 ft). They are oviparous and form pairs to breed, the male clears a space on the substrate for the female to lay the eggs in, the eggs adhere to the substrate and the male guards and aerates them.[3] It is commonest between depths of 5 to 50 m (16 to 164 ft). It can either be found close to the sea bed or it forms pelagic schools. It feeds on small benthic or planktonic invertebrates.[1]
Taxonomy[edit]
It was formerly considered conspecific with Chromis chromis but in some areas the two species are sympatric.[1]
Uses[edit]
Chromis limbata is a valued food fish in Madeira and is subject to a small scale artisanal fishery, especially off the south and east of the island.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Rocha, L.A. & Myers, R. (2015). "Chromis limbata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T188486A1882062. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T188486A1882062.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Synonyms of Chromis limbata (Valenciennes, 1833)". Fishbase.org. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Chromis limbata (Atlantic chromis)". Peer Into Your World. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ J.C. Hureau. "Fishes of the NE Atlantic & Mediterranean". Marine Species Identification Portal. ETI Bioinformatics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Chromis limbata" in FishBase. February 2017 version.
- ^ Jonas Rodrigues Leite; Athila Andrade Bertoncini; Leonardo Bueno; et al. (2009). "The occurrence of Azores Chromis, Chromis limbata in the south-western Atlantic". Marine Biodiversity Records. 2. Bibcode:2009MBdR....2E.145L. doi:10.1017/s1755267209990637.
External links[edit]
- Photos of Chromis limbata on Sealife Collection