Deep Reef Chromis
Pycnochromis delta
- Usual depth12–42 m
- Water temperature26–30 °C
- Best monthsMarch, April, and October
- How commonRare
Photo credit: (c) Jay Brasher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
About this species
Pycnochromis delta, the deep reef chromis, is a diurnal species of damselfish belonging to the genus Chromis. It can be found in the Indo-West Pacific, from Maldives and Christmas Island to Fiji, north to Taiwan and the Philippines, and south to Vanuatu. It can also be found in Tonga. It inhabits steep outer reef slopes with rich coral growth. They can either appear singly or in small groups remaining near shelter, often at the entrance of large caves or near its ceiling. It is oviparous, and the males of the species guard and aerate the eggs.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Pycnochromis delta”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 15 records
- February: 9 records
- March: 30 records
- April: 28 records
- May: 22 records
- June: 20 records
- July: 8 records
- August: 9 records
- September: 23 records
- October: 27 records
- November: 21 records
- December: 9 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 12–42 m · Deepest record: 95.5 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 26–30 °C
Photos
(c) Ditch Townsend, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist 
(c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Jay Brasher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- Deep Reef Chromis, Deep-reef Puller
Names in 2 more languages
- French
- Chromis des profondeurs
- Japanese
- Derutasuzumedai, デルタスズメダイ
Other scientific names: Chromis delta
Similar species
Bicolor ChromisPycnochromis margaritifer
- Agile Chromis
Pycnochromis agilis
- Blackfin Chromis
Pycnochromis vanderbilti
Black-bar ChromisPycnochromis retrofasciatus
- Ambon Chromis
Pycnochromis amboinensis
- Dark-fin Chromis
Pycnochromis atripes
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 121 open-data records from 1973 to 2016.
- Species data updated October 26, 2026.
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