Sergeant major

Facts

• Five bold black bars on the body; yellow on the upper body and gray below.^[1]
• Gathers in big feeding groups over shallow reef tops, from about 3 to 50 feet.^[1]
• Males turn bluish while guarding a patch of reddish eggs and defend the nest hard.^[1]

Where it's been reported (6)

From the sources on each dive site's page. Sightings are never guaranteed.

• Palomino Reef · Fajardo & La Cordillera“sergeant majors, yellowtail snappers, small reef fish, anemones — 'Palomino Reef' entry, re-read 2026-10-17” (Aqua Adventure)
• Seven Seas Beach · Fajardo & La Cordillera“parrotfish, damselfish, sergeant majors; corals along the way — 2015 article; one of 15 recommended snorkel beaches (Fajardo)” (Primera Hora)
• Forest · Guánica & La Parguera“spotted drum, barracuda, sergeant majors, a resident pufferfish” (Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling Center)
• Mar Chiquita · San Juan & North Coast“many fish incl. damselfish and sergeant majors; most life at both corners of the rock formation” (Primera Hora)
• Monkey Reef · Southeast Coast“sergeant majors, lobster, octopus, pufferfish” (Maragata Charters (Palmas del Mar, Humacao))
• Punta Arenas (Green Beach) · Vieques“sergeant majors, lobster, octopus, pufferfish, sea turtles, stingray, eagle ray” (Maragata Charters (Palmas del Mar, Humacao))