Creature Feature: Sergeant Major

January 14, 2022

Attention Solider! 5 Things to Know About The Sergeant Major

1. Commonly referred to as “sergeant major” as it exhibits five black bars – resembling the insignia of said rank in the military services.
2. In Belize and the Caribbean they are known to form large feeding aggregations, sometimes containing several hundred individuals.
3. Sexual dimorphism is minimal; which means they physically look the same making it difficult to distinguish male from female via casual observation.
4. Male sergeant majors guard the eggs during the four days incubation period prior to hatching.
5. Males adopt a bluish hue while guarding the nesting site and will bite divers to protect their nest!