These damsels are common on seaward, pinnacle and lagoon reefs. Juveniles have many relatively large turquoise spots over the body. The spots shrink and spread out as the animal grows, with the large adults sometimes lacking spots. They will aggressively defend their patches of algae, even to the point of biting divers if they get too close.
Juveniles have larger and more crowded spots.
Created 8 October 2017
Updated 16 January 2023