Cocoa damselfish (Stegastes variabilis)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Stegastes variabilis · Authority: (Castelnau, 1855) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276688.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Eupomacentrus chrysus Bean, 1906; Eupomacentrus variabilis (Castelnau, 1855); Pomacentrus flaviventer Troschel, 1865; Pomacentrus variabilis Castelnau, 1855.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276688 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 12.5 cm · Depth range: 0–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit inshore and offshore coral reefs. They feed mainly on benthic algae but also on sponges, ascidians and anemones while juveniles feed on invertebrates like harpacticoid copepods and nemerteans (Ref. 9626). Often solitary (Ref. 9626). Juveniles are aggressively territorial (Ref. 9626). Aggressive when breeding (Ref. 9710). 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). Taken incidentally in traps and small-meshed beach nets (Ref. 5217).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 3654) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Stegastes-variabilis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

55,352 georeferenced occurrence records for Stegastes variabilis are published through GBIF from 32 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 44 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 19 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: United States of America (48,843); Puerto Rico (2,963); Brazil (1,524); Mexico (901); Colombia (394).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2398885) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2398885&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276688 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Stegastes variabilis (Castelnau, 1855) 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 188527) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188527/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2398885) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2398885/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The genus name is Greek for stegastos, which means covered. Formerly, the Caribbean cocoa damselfish was considered as conspecific with the Brazilian cocoa damselfish, but the population from the Caribbean is genetically very distinct from it.

The Brazilian cocoa damselfish is an oval, laterally compressed fish and grows to about 12.5 cm long. The top of the head and the snout bear several blue stripes. The top of the body is generally dark brown or blue or brown and shades to yellow below. The sides are finely barred with obliquely vertical dark lines. There are two small black spots, one above the pectoral fins and the other on the top of the caudal peduncle. The large dorsal fin has 12 spines and 14 to 17 soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and 12 to 15 soft rays. The caudal fin is shallowly forked and has rounded lobes.

Brazilian cocoa damselfish are found in the western Atlantic by Brazil. They are marine and reef-associated. They do not migrate and have a depth range of 0 to 30 m.

Adults feed mainly on benthic algae but also on sponges, ascidiacea and anemones, while juveniles feed on invertebrates such as harpacticoid copepods and nemerteans.

In the breeding season, the female lays eggs on the seabed where they are attached to empty shells, stones or other objects and fertilized by the male. He then guards them, aerates them and chases away intruders. They are aggressive when breeding. Also there is distinct pairing during breeding.

Source: Wikipedia: Stegastes variabilis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stegastes_variabilis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.