ANIMAL SPECIES:Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion percula (Lacépède, 1802)
The Clown Anemonefish was brought to international stardom in the Pixar animated film Finding Nemo.
It occurs in tropical marine waters of Melanesia and Queensland feeding on algae and zooplankton.
Identification
The Clown Anemonefish can be recognised by its orange colour with three white bars (the middle bar usually has a rounded bulge anteriorly) and black markings on the fins.
Size range
The species grows to 8 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of Melanesia and Queensland. In Australia it is known from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The similar species, the False-Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris, is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and the Northern Territory but not from the Great Barrier Reef.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Clown Anemonefish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It usually lives in the tentacles of two species of sea anemone. In sheltered inshore reefs it lives in Stichodactyla gigantea, and on outer reefs it usually lives in Heteractis magnifica.
The Clown Anemonefish is found in depths from 1 m to 12 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It feeds on algae and zooplankton.
Classification
- Species:
- percula
- Genus:
- Amphiprion
- Family:
- Clown Anemonefish
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1993. Reef Fishes of New Guinea. A Field Guide for Divers, Anglers and Naturalists. Christensen Research Institute. No. 8. Pp. 132.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Kuiter, R.H. & H. Debelius. 1994. south-east Asia. Tropical Fish Guide. IKAN-Unterwasserarchiv. Pp. 321.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R & R.C. Steene. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 507.
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A Clown Anemonefish at Great Barrier Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Clown Anemonefish at Great Barrier Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Close-up of a Clown Anemonefish at Great Barrier Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Underside of a Clown Anemonefish at Great Barrier Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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