Damselfish, Pomacentridae, are small, often brightly coloured Perciform Fish found predominantly around tropical reefs and shores, though there are a few temperate and even freshwater species. They are often highly territorial, with males and females having separate territories, and the females leaving their territories briefly to lay eggs in the territories of the males, who then fertilise and brood the eggs and raise the young.
In a paper published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation on 14 September 2017, Gerald Allen of the Department of Aquatic Zoology at the Western Australian Museum, Mark Erdmann of the Conservation International Indonesia Marine Program and the California Academy of Sciences, and Dita Cahyani of the Indonesia Biodiversity Research Centre at Udayana University, describe a new species of Damselfish from the Solomon Islands.
The new species is placed in the genus Chrysiptera, and given the specific name burtjonesi, in honour of the photographer and underwater guide Burt Jones, for his promotion of diving in the Solomon Islands. The species is described from 24 specimens ranging from 20.5 to 48.2 mm in length, and grayish brown in colour with greenish fins and yellow and blue markings.
Chrysiptera burtjonesi, underwater photograph, approx. 40 mm SL, Russell Group, Solomon Islands. Gerald Allen in Allen et al. (2017).
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