damselfish
Small coral inhabitant
Damselfish are small, brightly colored tropical fish found in coral reefs worldwide.
Despite their delicate name, they're notably aggressive and territorial, fiercely defending patches of algae or coral from intruders many times their size.
The name echoes damselfly, both suggesting something small and dainty.
Marine skeletal formation
- anemoneTentacled polyp or bloom
- clownfishStriped reef fish, anemone symbiont
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
polyps · lagoon · atoll · barrier · staghorn · symbiosis · nesting · substrate
coral
Marine skeletal formation
- anemoneTentacled polyp or bloom
- clownfishStriped reef fish, anemone symbiont
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
territory · polyps · lagoon · atoll · barrier · staghorn · symbiosis · nesting · substrate · crevice
sergeant-major
Senior enlisted military rank
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
larvae · eggs · guarding · herbivore · omnivore · scales · fins · gills · schooling · saltwater
colorful
Full of varied hues
iridescent · neon · electric-blue · yellow · striped · spotted · banded · patterns · juveniles · dimorphism