Yellowhead damselfish (Pomacentrus aurifrons)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pomacentrus aurifrons · Authority: Allen, 2004 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 277136.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277136 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 6.150000095367432 cm · Depth range: 2–14 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults are common on coastal fringing reefs and offshore platform reefs (Ref. 50559). Found in groups above coral (Ref. 50559). Feed on zooplankton (Ref. 50559). 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 61536) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomacentrus-aurifrons.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

130 georeferenced occurrence records for Pomacentrus aurifrons are published through GBIF from 4 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 12 distinct locations from a sample of 130 records, omitting 7 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 Caledonia (102); Solomon Islands (15); Papua New Guinea (10); Vanuatu (3).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2398322) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2398322&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277136 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species in particular is a fish from the coral reefs of Papua New Guinea.

Pomacentrus aurifrons resembles Pomacentrus smithi with a similar color scheme and physiology, and are believed to be geminate species.

According to Allen, P. aurifrons can be distinguished by its "pale grey to nearly white with blue

spot on head scales, vertically elongate, blue streak on most body scales, broad zone of yellow encompassing snout, forehead, and base of anterior dorsal spines, translucent fins with bluish dorsal, anal, and caudal soft rays, and narrow yellow margin on spinous dorsal fin,". In Latin, auri means "gold" and frons means "forehead".

Currently there are three places where P. aurifrons can be found. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are where current locations to locate the species.

Pomacentrus aurifrons spend the majority of their time in coral reefs at a depth of about 2–14 m and live in groups. The coastal fringing reefs and offshore platform reefs they live on are generally composed of a variety of different sponge and both hard and soft coral. They feed on zooplankton.

Damselfish are commonly known to be vibrant species and as a result, they make their way to pet stores across America.

Source: Wikipedia: Pomacentrus aurifrons — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomacentrus_aurifrons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.