Yellowhead damselfish (Pomacentrus aurifrons)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Pomacentrus aurifrons, the yellowhead damselfish, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Pomacentridae, the damselfishes and clownfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderBlenniiformes
- FamilyPomacentridae
- GenusPomacentrus
- SpeciesPomacentrus aurifrons
Named by G. R. Allen, 2004
Close relatives
Other species of Pomacentrus with a Codexery entry.
- Bengal demoiselle Pomacentrus bangladeshius
- Lemon damsel Pomacentrus moluccensis
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Pomacentrus aurifrons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 277136 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.06 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: FishBase species summary
Where the yellowhead damselfish (pomacentrus aurifrons) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (130 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Pomacentrus aurifrons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; compare WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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