Fourstripe Damselfish Identification Guide
Identify this bold black-and-white damselfish by its black tail, the feature that separates it from the similar humbug.
Read the full Fourstripe Damselfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- White to pale grey body crossed by three bold, evenly spaced black vertical bars
- Black caudal (tail) fin, which combined with the three body bars gives a "four stripe" appearance
- Deep, rounded, disc-like body shape
- Small size, typically 2-3 inches (5-8 cm)
- Bars extend fully from the back to the belly with clean, sharp edges
Common look-alikes
- Humbug damselfish has the same three black body bars but a completely white tail fin, which is the single clearest way to separate the two species.
- Threespot dascyllus has a similar barred pattern plus a small pale spot on the forehead, distinguishing it from the plain-headed fourstripe damselfish.
- Whitetail dascyllus is essentially the same fish as the humbug and is separated from fourstripe damselfish the same way, by its white rather than black tail.
Where you'll see one
Fourstripe damselfish live in shallow lagoons and reef flats across the western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines to Micronesia. They shelter in tight groups among the branches of Pocillopora and Acropora corals, darting back into the coral head the instant a diver or predator approaches.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a fourstripe damselfish from a humbug damselfish?
Check the tail color: the fourstripe damselfish has a solid black tail, while the humbug damselfish has a completely white tail.
Do fourstripe damselfish school or live alone?
They typically live in small, tight groups sheltering within a single branching coral colony, rather than swimming alone or in large open-water schools.