ANIMAL SPECIES:Orange-fin Anemonefish, Amphiprion chrysopterus (Cuvier, 1830)
The Orange-fin Anemonefish lives between the tentacles of several anemone species where it feeds on zooplankton and algae.
Identification
The Orange-fin Anemonefish has a moderately deep, compressed body. The body is brown to black with two white to blue bars. The dorsal fin is orange to yellow and the tail is white. There is some variation in the colouration of the anal fin across the geographic range of this species. The anal fin of Australian fish is black.
The Orange-fin Anemonefish looks similar to the Barrier Reef Anemonefish and Clark's Anemonefish.
The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is a lighter colour than the Orange-fin Anemonefish and its anal fin is never black. The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is much more common than the Orange-fin Anemonefish.
Clark's Anemonefish has a wider bar on the side of the body and almost always a third bar across the tail base.
Size range
16 cmDistribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Orange-fin Anemonefish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It lives among the tentacles of several species of anemones at depths from 1 m to 20 m. It has been seen in the tentacles of Stichodactyla mertensii, Heteractis crispa and H.aurora.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
The species feeds mainly on zooplankton and algae.
Classification
- Species:
- chrysopterus
- Genus:
- Amphiprion
- Family:
- Pomacentridae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Fautin D.G. & Allen. G.R. 1992. Anemone Fishes and their host Sea Anemones. A guide for aquarists and divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 160.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
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An Orange-fin Anemonefish at Osprey Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
An Orange-fin Anemonefish at Bougainville Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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