Damselfish

Pomacentridae

Feisty little reef residents, from the iconic clownfish sheltering in anemones to Mediterranean damselfish guarding their algae patches. Don't be surprised if a tiny one charges your mask — they're famously territorial.

Last updated April 2026

Species

Clownfish

Amphiprion bicinctus(20 photos)

Least ConcernUp to 14 cm1–30mCoral reef

The iconic Red Sea two-band anemonefish — bright orange-yellow with two white bars outlined in black. Smaller and feistier than its Pacific relatives.

Aggressively guards its host anemone, darting at divers' masks and cameras — surprisingly bold for its size.

Observed at

Shabrur Umm Gamar(Hurghada)Jackson reef(Sharm El Sheikh)Woodhouse Reef(Sharm El Sheikh)Small Crack(Sharm El Sheikh)Ras Ghozlani(Sharm El Sheikh)Gorgonian Garden(Hurghada)

Mediterranean chromis

Chromis chromis(8 photos)

Least ConcernUp to 15 cm2–40mRocky reefPosidonia

A small, uniformly dark brown to black fish with a slightly forked tail. The most abundant fish on Mediterranean rocky reefs — impossible to miss.

Forms dense clouds above rocky reefs, feeding on plankton in mid-water — juveniles are electric blue and much easier to spot.

Mediterranean chromis, Mediterranean moray eel

Observed at

Mar Menuda(Tossa de Mar)El Faro(Ibiza)Bajo de Dentro(Cabo de Palos)Las Planetas(Sant Feliu de Guíxols)Ancora del Negre(Costa del Maresme)Marina del Este(La Herradura)Punta Cana(Costa del Maresme)El Santuari(Costa del Maresme)Carall Bernat(Illes Medes)Ullastres II(Palamós)Els Canons de Tamariu(Begur)

Canary damselfish

Abudefduf luridus(2 photos)

Least ConcernUp to 15 cm1–25mRocky reef

A stocky, dark damselfish with a blunt head, found in Canary Islands and Macaronesian waters. Dusky grey-brown body, sometimes with faint vertical bars.

Territorial on rocky reefs, often seen chasing other fish away from its algae patch.

Observed at

La cueva del diablo(El Hierro)

Half-and-half chromis

Chromis dimidiata(1 photos)

Least ConcernUp to 9 cm2–35mCoral reef

Recognize it by the sharp color split — dark brown upper body and bright white lower half. A common Red Sea damselfish found near branching corals.

Hovers in small groups just above coral heads, retreating into branches when threatened.

Observed at

Dunraven(Sharm El Sheikh)

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