About Abudefduf taurus (Müller & Troschel, 1848)
Abudefduf taurus (Müller & Troschel, 1848), commonly known as the night sergeant, is a species of damselfish belonging to the genus Abudefduf. It was first formally described by Johannes Peter Müller and Franz Hermann Troschel in 1848. This is a large damselfish species that reaches a maximum total length of 25 centimetres (9.8 inches).
This species is native to tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Its range includes waters off the coast of southern Florida, the Caribbean Sea, Cape Verde, and the continental African coast stretching from Senegal to Angola. It has also been recorded in waters off northern South America. Adult night sergeants typically inhabit rocky inshore reefs, and are most often found near wave-cut rock ledges, tidepools, and limestone-rich coastal environments.
Abudefduf taurus feeds primarily on algae. Adult individuals also consume Zoanthus and hydroids, while juvenile fish may additionally eat copepods. It is an oviparous species. During breeding, individuals form distinct mating pairs, and males guard and aerate eggs that are attached to the underwater substrate.
