Animal Species:Western Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris Cuvier, 1830

The Western Clown Anemonefish is orange with black markings on the fins. It has a white bar on the head, body and caudal peduncle. The middle bar usually has a rounded bulge anteriorly.

Western Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris

Western Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris
William Tan © William Tan

Alternative Name/s

Clown Anemonefish, Clownfish, False Clown Anemonefish

Identification

The Western Clown Anemonefish is orange with black markings on the fins. It has a white bar on the head, body and caudal peduncle. The middle bar usually has a rounded bulge anteriorly.

A black variety with white bars occurs around Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

The species is closely related to the Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion percula. It has 11 dorsal spines (10 in A.percula), and 17 pectoral rays (16 in A.percula).

Size range

The species grows to 8 cm in length.

Distribution

The fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Malaysian region, from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, throughout South-east Asia and south to Australia.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

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.

Amphiprion ocellaris

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Western Clown Anemonefish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It typically inhabits coral reefs and is associated with the anemones Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, S.mertensii and Stoichactis kenti.

The Western Clown Anemonefish is found in depths from 3 m to 15 m.

Classification

Species:
ocellaris
Genus:
Amphiprion
Family:
Pomacentridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  3. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, False-Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris, Pomacentridae, orange, white, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, coral reef, marine, adult,