Azurina eupalama
CR

Azurina eupalama

Local name: Galápagos Damselfish

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Azurina eupalama faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from coastal development and sedimentation in its restricted range. Ocean warming and acidification associated with climate change threaten the coral reef ecosystems this species depends upon. Overfishing of reef systems has disrupted the ecological balance of its marine environment, while pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development continues to degrade water quality in critical breeding and feeding areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

This marine fish inhabits shallow coral reefs and rocky reef environments in tropical Pacific waters. It typically occurs in areas with abundant coral cover and clear water conditions at depths ranging from near-surface to approximately 30 meters.

Rocky areas· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Frequently asked questions

Why is Galápagos Damselfish classified as Critically Endangered?
Galápagos Damselfish is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Azurina eupalama faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from coastal development and sedimentation in its restricted range. Ocean warming and acidification associated with climate change threaten the coral reef ecosystems this species depends upon. Overfishing of reef systems has disrupted the ecological balance of its marine environment, while pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development continues to degrade water quality in critical breeding and feeding areas.
Where does Galápagos Damselfish live?
Galápagos Damselfish occurs in Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Galápagos Damselfish?
The main threats to Galápagos Damselfish are 11.1, 5.4, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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