# Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish (*stegastes xanthurus*) The Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish is a colorful little fish that loves to swim around coral reefs! It is friendly and often seen playing with other fish in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Warm coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. - **Also known as:** Cocoa Damselfish, Cocoa Fish, Yellowtail Damselfish ![Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Caribbean_Cocoa_damselfish.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS - Individual photographer uncredited by source., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caribbean_Cocoa_damselfish.jpg) ## Appearance The Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish is a striking fish with a dark, often brownish-black body sharply contrasted by a bright yellow tail fin. It sometimes features a faint pale bar just behind its head, making it visually distinct from other reef dwellers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Pomacentridae - **Genus:** Stegastes ## Interesting facts - Each fish stakes out its own tiny patch of reef. - Males guard eggs by fanning them until they hatch. - Their tiny, sharp teeth are perfect for scraping algae. - They 'talk' to each other using clicking sounds! ## Special abilities - **Territory Titan:** Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish can fiercely guard its small patch of coral reef because it needs a safe home and a place to grow its food. - **Garden Grower:** Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish can 'farm' algae by carefully weeding out unwanted types, ensuring a constant food supply in its territory. - **Color Changer:** Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish can subtly shift its body color from light to dark because this helps it blend into its surroundings or express its mood. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-12 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 10 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding They munch on tiny plants and critters found on the reef to stay healthy. - **Primary Foods:** algae, copepods, amphipods, small marine worms - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Nassau Grouper (*Epinephelus striatus*) — A common predator in their reef habitat. - **Eaten by:** Grey Snapper (*Lutjanus griseus*) — These larger fish hunt damselfish on the reef. - **Shelter:** Mustard Hill Coral (*Porites astreoides*) — Often hides within the branches of various hard corals. - **Shelter:** Turtle Grass (*Thalassia testudinum*) — Juveniles often hide among seagrass blades. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish? 8-12 cm ### How much does Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish weigh? 0.03-0.08 kg ### How long does Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish live? 3-5 years ### What does Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish eat? They munch on tiny plants and critters found on the reef to stay healthy. ### How fast can Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish usually found? Warm coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. ### How does Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Saint Andrews State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-andrews-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Caribbean Cocoa Damselfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/caribbean-cocoa-damselfish)