White-Tailed Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis leucura
Family: Damselfishes – Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 6.5cm
Identification: Dark blue gray with yellow ventral fins and white tail; black edge marking extends from rear dorsal fin to rear anal fin, black spot covers pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Around deep boulders or scattered coral in 16-119m.
Location: Indo-Pacific – Mauritius and Reunion Is. to N. Sumatra in Indonesia, S.W. Japan, Hawaii and French Polynesia.

Twinspot Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis elerae
Family: Damselfishes – Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: Brown; two white spots, one each at base of rear dorsal and anal fin rays.
Favourite: Form small groups.
Hide-out: Caves, ledges and black coral thickets, usually on steep slopes in 12-70m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific – Maldives to Fiji and Guam in Micronesia. Taiwan to Australia.

Spiny Chromis

Scientific Name: Acanthochromis polyacanthus
Family: Damselfishes – Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 13cm
Identification: Visual ID nearly impossible due to highly variable color and markings depending on geographic location. Similar in shape to Chromis damselfishes, but much larger than most.
Favourite: Usually in pairs.
Hide-out: Shoreline, lagoon and outer reefs to 65m.
Location: Asian Pacific – Indonesia and Philippines to N. Australia and Solomon Is.

Pale-Tail Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis xanthura
Family: Damselfishes – Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: Dark charcoal-gray to blackish with white tail including base, but not rear dorsal and anal fins.
Favourite: Usually form groups.
Hide-out: Outer reef slopes in 3-40m.
Location: East Indo-Pacific – Cocos-Keeling Is. to Indonesia, Line Is. and Pitcaim Is. east of French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to N.W. and N.E. Australia and New Caledonia.

Pacific Half-and-Half Chromis

Scientific Name: Chromis iomelas
Family: Damselfishes – Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: Dark brown to black head and forebody, white rear body and tail. Distinguished from Indian Half-and-Half Chromis by location.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Outer reef areas in 3-35m.
Location: Southwestern Pacific – Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea to Fiji.