Reticulate dascyllus (Dascyllus reticulatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Ovalentaria incertae sedis · Family: Pomacentridae · Genus: Dascyllus.

Accepted name: Dascyllus reticulatus · Authority: (Richardson, 1846) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212844.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Dascyllus marginatus reticulatus (Richardson, 1846); Dascyllus reticulata (Richardson, 1846); Dascyllus reticulates (Richardson, 1846); Dascyllus xanthosoma Bleeker, 1851; Heliases reticulatus Richardson, 1846; Heliastes reticulatus Richardson, 1846; Pomacentrus unifasciatus Kner, 1868.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212844 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Dascyllus reticulatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 9 cm · Depth range: 1–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 24.8 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults occur in outer lagoon and seaward reefs. They inhabit branching coral heads, particularly Pocillopora eydouxi . Form schools, often in silty habitats (Ref. 48636).

Male prepares a nest by cleaning with its mouth a rock or coral surface where the female will attach the eggs (Ref. 5503). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Diurnal species (Ref. 54980; 113699).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5113) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dascyllus-reticulatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

9,168 georeferenced occurrence records for Dascyllus reticulatus are published through GBIF from 45 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 318 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 34 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (3,952); Northern Mariana Islands (1,354); American Samoa (676); Guam (483); Indonesia (476).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212044) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212044&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212844 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Dascyllus reticulatus (Richardson, 1846) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 188395) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188395/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212044) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212044/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.