contents consisted of organic detritus, diatoms and 25 species of 

 algae, mostly filamentous, but including 5 fleshy, 2 calcareous, 

 and 2 leafy species, plus diatoms. Beebee and Tee-Van (1928) 

 suggest dusky damselfishes eat algae, small organisms, and "all 

 manner of bottom detritus." 



Eupomocentrus leucostictus (Muller and Troschel) . Beaugregory 



Beaugregories were occasionally observed on the main reef in 

 depths to ten meters, always close to or occupying a crevice. 

 Fourty-one specimens examined by Randall (1967) contained 22.6% 

 algae and organic detritus, including diatoms, 5 filamentous, 

 1 fleshy, and 1 calcarenus species. 



Eupomocentrus planifrons (Cuvier) . Yellow Damselfish 



This small, colorful species was common on the reef, several adults 

 often occupying the same large coral head. Apparently most abundant 

 in 3 to 10 m depth, yellow damselfishes were occasionally observed 

 to 20 m, sometimes in association with isolated coral heads on the 

 algal plain. Juveniles were seen alone over small coral lumps, in 

 accord with observations by Bohlke and Qiapin (1968) in the Bahamas, 

 where the species has been recorded from 4 to 85 feet. Randall 

 (1967) examined 18 specimens that contained 24.4% algae and detritus 

 including diatoms , 5 filamentous species , and fragments of the sea 

 grass , Thalassia . 



Eupomocentrus partitus (Poey) . Bicolor Damselfish 



This species was seen on the reef in 5 to 23 m depth, but was most 

 evident in deeper parts of this range in association with isolated rocks 

 and coral heads on the algal plain. Randall (1968) described two color 

 phases correlated with depth; both were observed in Lameshur Bay, the 

 "typical" color on reefs to about 15 m depth and the "deep water phase" 

 on the algal plain. 



Twenty meters from the face of the reef on a rock lump approximately 

 1 1/2 m X 1/2 m x 1/2 m. there were at least 15 individuals of this 

 species including two approximately 6 cm long, three 4 cm long, and 

 ten 2 cm or less in length. On July 15, an attempt was made to see 

 when the damselfishes left their nighttime crevices. None were 

 apparent at 0534 hours when the observations were begun, but at 0545, 

 as darkness shaded to light, the two largest damselfishes came out 

 of the rock, and within 15 minutes, all of the smaller fishes appeared 

 to be up and active. At dusk, the damselfishes returned to hollows 

 (apparently specific) in the rock. 



VI-146 



