Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Stegastes arcifrons (Heller & Snodgrass, 1903)

damisela cola amarilla, Damisela de cola amarill o jaqueto amarillo, Yellowtail damselfish

Size: To 16 cm. Elongate disk-shaped body. Grayish brown to dark charcoal; often lighter color on nape. Eyes blue. Juvenile - Dark brown with bright blue edges on dorsal, ventral and anal fins, and blue tint on body.

Habitat: Rocky areas and regions where coral reefs predominate; common in depths from 10 to 20 m.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Teleostei

Order
Ovalentaria incertae sedis

Family
Pomacentridae

Genus
Stegastes

Species
arcifrons

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Eupomacentrus arcifrons (Heller & Snodgrass, 1903), Pomacentrus arcifrons Heller & Snodgrass, 1903, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)

Origin: Native

Status

IUCN Red List Category: Not evaluated

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Eastern Pacific; mainland of Costa Rica (Isla del Caño) and several oceanic islands: Cocos, Malpelo and Ecuador in Galapagos

References

  • 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.
  • Victor, B. C. Grove, J. S., Long, D. J., Robertson, D. R., Keith, I., Bensted-Smith, W., & Salinas-de-León, P. (2024) List of Fishes of the Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador (Version 2.0). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 41, 54-111.

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, Stegastes arcifrons", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7720. Accessed 30 October 2026.