The juvenile copies three different dwarf angelfish depending on which one lives nearby.
Adults reach about 25 cm and are plain chocolate brown to grey with a yellow-orange patch behind the eye, a dark band at the base of the pectoral fin and an orange-edged caudal blade. The juvenile is the interest: depending on locality it takes the colours of the lemonpeel, pearlscale or bicolor angelfish, and the version present at a site is generally the one whose model lives there.
The mimicry is thought to let the juvenile feed inside angelfish territories without being attacked, since angelfishes are not chased by algae-holding damselfish in the way surgeonfishes are. Adults graze algae and detritus and range widely. Both stages are common; a juvenile that does not quite look like the angelfish it resembles is worth a second look, since the caudal blade and the lack of an angelfish’s cheek spine settle it. Recorded from about 3 to 45 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.