Visual aspects of species recognition in the damselfish Dascyllus aruanus L. (Pisces, Pomacentridae)

Attraction was found to be a reliable indicator of species recognition in the damselfish Dascyllus aruanus. Isolated fish are attracted to live or dead conspecifics significantly more than to heterospecifics. Attraction persists towards black and white photographs. Using photographs it was shown that certain parts of the pattern are more important for recognition than others. Of the three black bars of the normal colour pattern, the central is the most important, and the anterior the least so. Two alternative criteria for demonstrating species recognition in a boldly coloured reef fish, aggression and attraction, are contrasted.