Description:

Dorsal spines: 12; Dorsal rays: 14-16; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14-15.
Round full-bodied small, fish, laterally compressed. Dorsal head profile very steep. Large eyes. Rear edge of pre-operculum finely serrate. Mouth upturned and terminal. Conical teeth in one row, with villiform teeth behind teeth at front of jaws. Tail fin truncate with rounded corners.
Colour. Juvenile black, with median white spot on top of head and one larger white spot on each side below rear dorsal fin spines; all fins black except the transparent pectoral and outer portion of soft dorsal rays. Adult variable, dark with black scale edges, but may be paler when breeding. No spot on forehead and spots on flanks reduced or absent. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins usually black. 
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 14cm TL. 

Inhabit coral and rocky reefs (depth 1-55m). Juveniles often associate with sea anemones, or hide branching corals and long spine sea urchins. Juveniles usually in groups of 10 to 50 fish. Adults generally solitary. Feeds on zooplankton. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap and net fisheries, but is an uncommon component of the catch. 

Bray, D.J. 2017. Dascyllus trimaculatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/349 (11/07/19).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Dascyllus-trimaculatus (11/07/19).

Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.