The Galapagos damsel (Azurina eupalama), also known as Blackspot chromis, is a possibly extinct fish species from the family of Pomacentridae. It was endemic in the waters near the Galápagos Islands and Cocos Island.

Description

The Galapagos damsel reached a length of 14cm to 15 cm. The colour was predominantly light olive grey with a light blue tint. The ventral side was silvery. The mouth was dusky.

Biology and occurrence

The Galapagos damsel was known from following regions: Floreana, Gardiner Bay, Española, Tagus Cove, Isabela, Marchena, James Bay and Sullivan Bay, Santiago, Wreck Bay, San Cristóbal, Academy Bay, Santa Cruz and Santa Fe. One specimen (found many years ago) which is on display in the American Museum of Natural History was collected near Cocos Island. The Galapagos damsel was a plankton feeder.

Extinction

The 1982/1983 El Niño-Southern Oscillation activity led to an increase of the water temperatures nearby the Galapagos Islands. The plankton production was turned off for at least one year and this led to a complete breakdown of the Galapagos damsel (and other plankton feeders) population. Despite intensive searches during the next decade, the Galapagos damsel was not found again.

References

• Jack S. Grove and Robert J. Lavenberg: The Fishes of the Galápagos Islands. Stanford University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8047-2289-7
• Robert E. Snodgrass & Edmund Heller: Papers from the Hopkins Stanford Galapagos Expedition, 1898-1899. XV. New fishes, 1903. Online