Pomacentrus vatosoa Frable & Tea, 2019
Corazon's damsel

Family:  Pomacentridae (Damselfishes), subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Max. size:  4.97 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Madagascar.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 14-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-14; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D XIV,13-14; A II, 14; pectoral-fin rays 18-19; tubed lateral-line scales 19-20; gill rakers 5-6 + 17-18 = 22-24; absence of distinct notch between infraorbitals 1 and 2. Colour pattern unique with body pearlescent-white, with a large irregular black spot midlaterally behind posterior tip of pectoral fin; a black saddle about equal size on the dorsal edge of caudal peduncle, edged distally with iridescent blue; presence of a fuliginous recurved band extending from the posterior orbit to origin of dorsal fin; with a small black spot on dorsal edge of pectoral-fin axil (Ref. 120617).
Biology:  Occurs singly or in pairs, above sheltered low-lying reefs. It is unknown whether or not it is more widespread for previous surveys of Malagasy and western Indian Ocean reefs did not report the occurrence of this species (Ref. 120617).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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