Panamic Sergeant Major
Also calledpetaca banderita
The listed range reaches King Harbor in Redondo Beach, from a first California record published in 1997. This tropical reef fish has few records here.
Sightings
2026 season, numbered oldest first, every one sourced
- #1Nov 1, 20261 reportOrange County coast
- Source
- iNaturalist 412357179
About this fish
What it is, where it comes from, and whether it has been here before
How it lives
These fish live on shallow rocky and coral reefs, usually in large groups. They feed in open water on plankton during the day, and they also graze on small animals and algae on the reef. FishBase calls this a warm-water species. Pairs form to breed, the eggs stick to the bottom, and the males guard and fan them. Young fish in their second year have been seen cleaning schools of mullet, halfbeaks and needlefish.
Where it normally lives
King Harbor in Redondo Beach to northern Peru, including the Gulf of California, the Galapagos Islands and other offshore islands.
The listed range runs from King Harbor in Redondo Beach to northern Peru, including the Gulf of California, the Galapagos Islands and other offshore islands. FishBase starts it much farther south, at Bahia San Juanico in Baja California.
Range source: Love and colleagues, 2021 checklist of Pacific coast fishes · FishBase · Mexican Fish.com
In California
A 1997 paper reported the first California record, from King Harbor. On November 1, 2026, an iNaturalist user logged 1 on the Orange County coast, and the record reached research grade, which means other users agreed with the ID. iNaturalist held 3 earlier Southern California records on November 2, 2026.
Photos
From California this season
No photos yet. If you photographed this animal in California this season, send it in.
Identification
How to tell it from the locals
The Panamic sergeant major is a deep-bodied damselfish. Mexican Fish describes it as whitish to pale silvery green with a bright yellow back and dark bars across the side and the base of the tail. It has a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin, the side fin. It reaches about 9 inches, though about 4 inches is more common.
Details
Rarity in the compendium is Nautical Nick's call on how likely a diver is to run into the animal on the California coast this season, not how rare it is where it normally lives.