Cocoa Damselfish

The Cocoa Damselfish has a body that is thick and rounded, with dark shades of green or gray that blend into a yellow belly. Many adults show a dark mark at the base of the tail and faint diagonal lines along the sides. Small pale blue dots are usually limited to the head. Juveniles have an upper head and back with a blue tint that spreads over the top of the body and the front part of the dorsal fin. The belly is yellow. They show a dark spot on the dorsal fin edged with blue, and the mark may reach slightly onto the back. Very young juveniles also have thin blue lines on the head and front dorsal area, which fade as they grow.

This Damselfish lives around coral structures, especially along the front sections where Hard Corals grow. They maintain small territories and may defend them, particularly when males are guarding eggs.