It inhabits lagoons and reefs after settlement in the late-larval stage, and often occurs in large numbers, feeding above Acropora corals.

[3] C. atripectoralis is the sibling species of the blue-green damselfish C. viridis based on their mitochondrial genome.

[5] The relatively high thermotolerance of C. atripectoralis may allow it to live at latitudes closer to the equator and to resist extinction as global ocean temperatures rise.

[7] The late-stage larvae of C. atripectoralis reside in the pelagic zone and exhibit a swimming speed range of 21.6 to 25.2 centimeters per second.

The overall swimming directionality of late-stage C. atripectoralis appears to be southeast in the morning and south-southwest in the afternoon, regardless of where the nearest shore is located.

[9] There is currently no evidence that C. atripectoralis larva can localize the source of biological sounds, but it is possible that the larvae’s ability to identify nocturnal reef noises may function in combination with other methods, such as a solar compass, to facilitate their success in settling to a coral reef.