Species profile
Atlantic Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis
Identify Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 2,223 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for five dark vertical bars that resemble a military sergeant major's rank insignia.
- Males guard egg patches and darken to deep blue during active nest defense.
- Range spans from Rhode Island south through Brazil, including the entire Caribbean.
- Often aggregates in large groups near floating Sargassum mats and offshore debris lines.
- An opportunistic omnivore eating algae, small crustaceans, fish eggs, and larvae.
Where Atlantic Sergeant Major are seen
Background
The sergeant major or píntano (Abudefduf saxatilis) is a species of damselfish. It grows to a maximum length of about 22.9 centimetres (9.0 in).
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Sergeant Major article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Sergeant Major?
Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Sergeant Major?
Atlantic Sergeant Major is Abudefduf saxatilis.
Are there fishing rules for Atlantic Sergeant Major?
Atlantic Sergeant Major does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Atlantic Sergeant Major?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Sergeant Major along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.