New Zealand demoiselle (Chromis dispila)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chromis dispila · Authority: Griffin, 1923 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1577314.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chromis dispilus Griffin, 1923.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1577314 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 21 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: pelagic-neritic · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 11 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Mid-water plankton feeders which feed almost exclusively on copepods. Form small feeding aggregations (10-20 fishes) in calm inshore waters, but in deeper water offshore or in areas subject to strong currents, aggregations of up to 500 individuals may occur (Ref. 26966).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 56865) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chromis-dispila.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

470 georeferenced occurrence records for Chromis dispila are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 25 distinct locations from a sample of 470 records, omitting 3 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: New Zealand (466); Australia (4).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212288) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212288&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1577314 (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 Chromis dispilus Griffin, 1923 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 188414) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188414/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212288) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212288/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.