Stegastes variabilis

Stegastes variabilis, commonly known as the Brazilian cocoa damselfish, is a species of damselfish in the family Pomacentridae. They live on coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean and off the coast of Brazil. They normally do not live with other fish.

Taxonomy
The genus name is Greek for stegastos. It means covered. In the past, the Caribbean cocoa damselfish was believed to be in the same species as the Brazilian cocoa damselfish, This is not true, the population from the Caribbean is genetically different.

Description
The Brazilian cocoa damselfish is in the shape of an oval that is pressed in at the sides. It grows to about  long. The top of the head and the snout have many blue stripes. The top of the body is generally dark brown, blue or brown. It has shades to yellow on the lower body. The sides have bars of vertical dark lines. They have two small black spots on their bodies. One is above the pectoral fins. The other on the top of the caudal peduncle. The large dorsal fin has twelve spines and between fourteen and seventeen soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and  between twelve and fifteen soft rays. The caudal fin is forked and has rounded lobes.Stegastes variabilis on FishBase

 Distribution and habitat
Brazilian cocoa damselfish are found near Brazil in the western Atlantic Ocean.  They do not migrate. These fish have a depth range of . 

Ecology and behaviour
Feeding
Adults mainly eat benthic algae. They also eat sponges, ascidiacea and anemones. The young of the species eat invertebrates such as harpacticoid copepods and nemerteans. 

Breeding
In the breeding season, the female lays eggs on the seabed. The eggs attached to empty shells, stones or other objects. They are then fertilized by the male. He then guards them, aerates them and chases away intruders. The fish  are aggressive when they are  breeding. There is also a distinct pairing during the breeding. 

References

Category:Pomacentridae
Category:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
Category:Taxa described in 1855