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Beaubrummel (Juvenile)

Stegastes flavilatus

An underwater photograph of a vibrant yellow and blue Beaubrummel damselfish swimming among delicate white branched marine life.
An underwater close-up of a Beaubrummel damselfish peeking out from a rocky reef, displaying its yellow lower body, blue-scaled upper body, and prominent dorsal fin spot.
An underwater photograph of a Beaubrummel facing slightly towards the camera against a blurred colorful background, emphasizing the electric blue markings around its eyes and face.
A macro underwater photograph of a Beaubrummel resting in a pink, encrusted reef crevice, highlighting its bright blue facial spots and a large black spot on its dorsal fin.
A clear, side-profile underwater photograph of a Beaubrummel damselfish, showing its vibrant yellow body, blue upper half, a large black spot on the dorsal fin, and a smaller black spot at the base of its tail

Juvenile

Family: Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)
Size: Up to 10 cm (4 in)
Depth: 1 – 15m (3 – 50ft)

Distribution: Eastern Tropical Pacific (Gulf of California to Ecuador, including the Galapagos and Malpelo Islands).

Identification: A tiny, brilliantly colored reef fish that completely changes its appearance as it ages.

  • Neon Bicolor Body: Juveniles possess a striking split-color pattern: the upper front half of their body is a brilliant neon blue, while the lower rear half and tail are bright yellow.
  • The "False Eye" Spot: Look for a prominent, large black spot (ocellus) ringed in neon blue on their dorsal fin, an evolutionary trick designed to confuse predators.
  • Shape-Shifting Transformation: As they mature into adults, they completely lose these stunning neon colors, fading into a drab, dark brown territorial reef fish.

Behavior: Highly territorial bottom-dwellers, even at a young age.

  • Rubble Hiders: Juvenile Beaubrummels are highly active but stay extremely close to the safety of the rocky substrate. In the shallow volcanic reefs of Bahia Solano, they dart rapidly in and out of tight crevices.
  • Algae Farmers: Like most damselfish, they aggressively defend their small, personal algae patches from much larger grazing fish on the Chocó coast.

You just learned about this fish...

NOW COME SEE IT!

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Behind the Lens

Jalvan

Underwater Photographer & Instructor

Documenting unique marine biodiversity from the Red Sea across the Pacific Ocean. Dedicated to creating a visual catalog of Bahia Solano's marine life for conservation and research.

Photography: Sony A7C II | Olympus EPL10
Video: Osmo Action 5 Pro | GoPro

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REFERENCES & DATA SOURCES

  • Scientific ID: Verified via FishBase (Froese & Pauly) & Regional Eastern Pacific data.
  • Field Guide: Reef Fish Identification: Baja to Panama (Humann & DeLoach).
  • Conservation Status: IUCN Red List (Least Concern).
  • Regional Data: Ankla Azul Marine Observation Log (Bahia Solano).

More Than Kicking Your Fins

At Ankla Azul, diving is more than kicking your fins. It's patient teaching, sharp safety, and real care for the place we call home. As an SSI Instructor Training Center and an SSI Blue Oceans Center (2025 award), we blend skill-building with ocean awareness—Fish ID, coral nursery work, community education, and rescue support—so every dive grows confidence and respect for Bahía Solano's wild Pacific.