Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis
Sighting evidence at The Cathedral, Bermuda
Photo: François Libert · CC BY-NC-SA
Sergeant majors are found in extraordinary abundance at the Cathedral, using the cavern openings and roof as territorial anchor points for nesting, with males guarding purple egg masses laid on the flat limestone ceiling. The species is a keystone reef fish in Bermuda, both as prey for larger predators and as an aggressive defender of algal mats that influence benthic community composition. Their perpetual presence and schooling behaviour at this site creates the shimmering golden light effect that is a signature visual experience for divers.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Sergeant Major is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.