Barrier Reef Anemonefish, Amphiprion akindynos (Allen, 1972)

Scientific name: Amphiprion akindynos
  • Updated
    22/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Barrier Reef Anemonefish, Amphiprion akindynos Click to enlarge image
Barrier Reef Anemonefish at Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Image: Richard Vevers
© Richard Vevers

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Amphiprion
    Species
    akindynos
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    This species grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is brown with two black-edged white bars. The first bar crosses the head. The second bar crosses the body at the middle of the dorsal fin. The tail is white.

Identification

As its standard name suggests, the species is found on the northern Great Barrier Reef. It is a small, brown fish with two black-edged white bars.

Amphiprion akindynos
A Barrier Reef Anemonefish at a depth of 10 m, "Monsa's Unique Bommie II", Great Detached Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, December 1999. Image: E. Schlögl
© E. Schlögl

Habitat

It lives in close association with several species of anemones. The species name akindynos comes from the Greek word meaning safe or without danger. This refers to the condition the fish enjoys while tucked among the tentacles of its host.

Distribution

The Barrier Reef Anemonefish occurs in tropical marine waters of the south-western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to northern New South Wales.

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.

Breeding behaviours

Spawning behaviour has been recorded for a number of species of Amphiprion (Allen, 1980). There are three main phases, courtship and nest preparation followed by spawning and nest guarding or incubation. The incubation period lasts for six or seven days and during this time both parents care for the eggs, although the male takes a much more active role in these duties.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1980. The Anemonefishes of the World: Handbook for Aquarists, Divers and Scientists. Aquarium Systems. Pp. 104.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp.271.
  3. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  4. Fautin, D.G. & G.R. Allen. 1992. Anemone Fishes and their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 159.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  7. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.