About Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus Allen & Randall, 1980
Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus, formally described by Allen & Randall in 1980, has 13 dorsal spines (spines located on the upper back of the fish), and 11 to 13 dorsal soft rays. These soft rays are segmented fin rays made of two closely joined lateral elements, and they are almost always flexible and often branched. This species has two anal spines and 11 to 13 anal soft rays. Its overall body color is pearly white: the anterior (front) half is grayish, the chest is mainly pearly white, and the posterior (rear) half is yellowish. This yellow coloration gives the species its Latin name flavilatus, which means "with yellow sides". Like many other pomacentrid (damselfish) species, this fish is intensely territorial and competes for space both within its own species and with other species. The territories it defends are called "algal gardens", which are large patches of algae that the fish cultivate and maintain. For some damselfish species, reproductive patterns are tied to periodic rainfall and wind changes in tropical regions, and some researchers note that the lunar cycle influences the synchronization of damselfish reproductive activity. Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus is a reef-dwelling fish, most commonly found on coastal fringing reefs and reef slopes. It only occurs at depths between 12 and 20 meters (39 to 66 feet), and it is non-migratory, with no recorded movement away from its established home range. It prefers warm water with temperatures ranging from 72 to 78 °F (22 to 26 °C). This species is native to the western Indian Ocean, specifically the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where it occurs in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
