Head to head
Mediterranean Chromis vs Sergeant Major Damselfish
Mediterranean Chromis
VS Sergeant Major Damselfish
The Mediterranean chromis and the sergeant major are two damselfish that gather on shallow rocky reefs on either side of the Atlantic, and the males of both guard their eggs.
| Mediterranean Chromis | Sergeant Major Damselfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Chromis chromis | Abudefduf saxatilis |
| Relationship | A fellow member of the damselfish family | A fellow member of the damselfish family |
| Colour | A deep, oval, dark brown body, with juveniles an intense electric blue | A yellow-and-silver body crossed by five distinct vertical black bars, resembling military rank insignia |
| Size | Usually 8 to 15 cm long | Grows somewhat larger than many other damselfish species |
| Diet | Omnivore, picking plankton from the water above the reef, with some algae and small animals | Omnivore, feeding on algae, small invertebrates, and plankton |
| Grouping | Gathers in huge shoals above rocky reefs and over the edges of seagrass meadows | Frequently found in large, loosely organised groups in shallow reef and rocky habitat |
| Nesting | The male clears a patch of rock, attracts females to lay eggs, and guards the eggs until they hatch | Males guard a cluster of eggs laid on a rock or other surface, fanning them with their fins until they hatch |
| Range | The Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic, from the Bay of Biscay to West Africa | Ocean and coastal habitat across much of the Atlantic |
Mediterranean Chromis vs Sergeant Major Damselfish: common questions
Which one has bold black bars?
The sergeant major, which has five distinct vertical black bars across a yellow-and-silver body.
Which one has electric-blue young?
The Mediterranean chromis, whose juveniles are an intense electric blue, a colour they lose as they mature into dark brown adults.
Who guards the eggs?
In both species the male guards the eggs on a patch of rock until they hatch.