Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Microspathodon dorsalis
damisela gigante, jaqueta gigante, Giant damselfish
Large, somewhat elongate, disk-shaped body. Bluish gray; can rapidly pale or darken. Forebodies of breeding males' often silvery gray [bellow]. Juvenile-Bright blue with brilliant iridescent blue spots. Usually to about 25cm, occasionally reaching 31 cm
Habitat: Rocky areas in surge zones and regions of stronge current in shallow waters; adults usually in pairs.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Ovalentaria incertae sedis
Family
Pomacentridae
Genus
Microspathodon
Species
dorsalis
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Hypsypops dorsalis Gill, 1862, Microspathodon azurissimus Jordan & Starks, 1895, Microspathodon cinereus Gilbert, 1890, Pomacentrus quadrigutta Gill, 1862, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, California to Colombia, and Cocos, Revillegigedos and Ecuador in the Galapagos Islands. Southern Baja and lower Gulf of California to Ecuador. All the oceanic islands except Clipperton.
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- Banks, S. Vera, M. & Chiriboga, A. (2009) Establishing Reference Points to Assess Long-Term Change in Zooxanthellate Coral Communities of the Northern Galapagos Coral Reefs. J. Sci. Conserv. in the Galapagos Islands, p. 43-64.
- Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Microspathodon dorsalis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7717. Accessed 30 October 2026.