Family: Pomacentridae, Damselfishes view all from this family

Description To 12" (30 cm). Deep, elongate, very compressed; back dark blackish blue, sides gray-blue; black spots posteriorly and on dorsal fin; juveniles purplish blue anteriorly, yellowish posteriorly. Mouth slightly upturned; maxilla does not reach eye; single nostril on each side of snout. Lateral line ends under soft dorsal fin.

Related Species Blue Chromis (C. cyaneus) mostly blue or black; occurs on reefs in S. Florida and the Caribbean.

Habitat Reefs and kelp beds to 45 fathoms.

Range From Monterey Bay, California, to Punta San Pablo, Baja California.

Discussion Blacksmiths spawn during the summer; the male cleans the nesting site, then herds a ripe female to it. After spawning, the male guards the eggs until they hatch. Because of their small size, Blacksmiths are not sought by anglers, but they are occasionally taken on small hooks, and by spear fishers.