Pomacentrinae is one of four subfamilies in the family Pomacentridae which includes the clownfishes and the damselfishes.

They feed on algae, which they appear to cultivate, actively increasing the algal productivity within their territories.

Many species lay demersal eggs, which are guarded and fanned by the male.

[3] One species, the freshwater demoiselle Neopomacentrus taeniurus is known to enter estuaries and even reaches into the lowest stretches of streams.

[2] The 5th Edition of Fishes of the World states that the Pomacentrinae is most likely to be paraphyletic but does not break the subfamily into different lineages.