Animal Species:Spine-cheek Clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus (Bloch, 1790)

The Spine-cheek Clownfish occurs on coral reefs in marine waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The species lives among the tentacles of the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Spine-cheek Clownfish at Rabaul

Spine-cheek Clownfish at Rabaul
Matt Dowse © Matt Dowse

Alternative Name/s

Spine-cheek Anemonefish, Tomato Clownfish

Identification

The Spine-cheek Clownfish can be recognised by its brown to red body, two or three pale (usually white) bands, and a long spine below both eyes. 

Size range

It grows to about 16 cm in length.

Distribution

Spine-cheek Clownfish occurs on coral reefs in marine waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Premnas biaculeatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Spine-cheek Clownfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species lives among the tentacles of the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Feeding and Diet

The species feeds on zooplankton and algae.

Classification

Species:
biaculeatus
Genus:
Premnas
Family:
Pomacentridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Spine-cheek Clownfish, Premnas biaculeatus, Pomacentridae, brown, red, orange, white, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult,