Description:

Dorsal spines: 13; Dorsal rays: 12-16; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 12-14.
Oblong to ovoid, laterally compressed small fish. Soft dorsal and anal fins with pointed rear profiles. Caudal fin forked with moderately long lobes with rounded tips. 
Colour. Whitish body with five dark bars on body. First bar behind the head descending down rear margin of opercle to base of pectoral fin. Bars 2 & 3 extend on to dorsal fin and fade out on lower stomach. 4th bar extends onto sift dorsal and anal fins. 5th bar is on caudal peduncle. Dark patch on brow down to eyes. Pectoral fin hyaline. Pelvic fins pale. Distinctive, characteristic, broad dark streak along each caudal-fin lobe.
 

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 19cm TL. 

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits inshore and offshore coral or rocky reefs (depth 1-20m). Also utilises shallow coastal reef flats or crests particularly where lots of tall soft corals or hydroid colonies are present. Feeds on zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and algae and aggregates high in the water column. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate eggs, and maintain a nest site in which multiple females may deposit their eggs.

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, but is an uncommon component of the catch, possibly due to usually being released by fishers when caught. 

Notes:
References:

Bray, D.J. 2018. Abudefduf sexfasciatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/308 (06/07/19).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5688 (06/07/19).

Jenkins, A. et al 2017. Abudefduf sexfasciatus. The IUCN Red List 2017: e.T188557A1892616. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T188557A1892616.en.  (06/07/19).

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