Wilderness Portraits by Lloyd Paul Aiello

Juvenile Yellowtail Damselfish

A Yellowtail Damselfish (Microspathodon chrysurus) challenges the photographer 51 feet beneath the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Riviera Maya. The juveniles, as shown here, are often called "Jewelfish" because of their neon blue spots. When very young, their tails are without any color at all. Adult males will turn yellow during courting. The small neon blue spots never go away but get smaller and fade as the fish gets older. One of the most aggressive of all damselfish, it grows to a size of 8.5 inches (21 cm) in length. Yellowtail Damselfish are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from northeastern Florida south along the U.S. coast, Bermuda, the Bahamas, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and along the Brazilian coast from Manuel Luis Reefs to Abrolhos including Trinidade Island.

Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: P4100307-2-Edit-juvenile-yellowtail-damselfish-fish-corals.tif
Image Size: 2001x2668 / 29.1MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Atlantic Cancun Country Gulf of Mexico Mexico Riviera Maya activity animal behavior animals aquatic challenge close-up color colorful confrontation coral damselfish descriptors fish format identification master ocean/sea pink places portrait salt water season spring swimming type vertical view water white yellow yellowtail damselfish
Contained in galleries: Recent Additions, Underwater, Wildlife

A Yellowtail Damselfish (Microspathodon chrysurus) challenges the photographer 51 feet beneath the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Riviera Maya. The juveniles, as shown here, are often called "Jewelfish" because of their neon blue spots. When very young, their tails are without any color at all. Adult males will turn yellow during courting. The small neon blue spots never go away but get smaller and fade as the fish gets older. One of the most aggressive of all damselfish, it grows to a size of 8.5 inches (21 cm) in length. Yellowtail Damselfish are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from northeastern Florida south along the U.S. coast, Bermuda, the Bahamas, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and along the Brazilian coast from Manuel Luis Reefs to Abrolhos including Trinidade Island.