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Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett, 1830)
| Family Name: | Pomacentridae |
| Synonyms: | Anthias clarkii (Bennett, 1830) |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Fish) |
| Common Name: | Clownfish, Anemonefish |
Name
Description
| Size | Up to 80mm |
|---|---|
| Description | Dark-bodied clownfish with yellow tail and fins and orange-yellow head. Distinguished by two white bars and pale tail. Grows up to 13cm. |
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Inhabit coral reefs where they live among the venomous tentacles of large sea anemones. Clownfishes are usually found in groups comprising an adult pair and many juveniles. Five species are recorded from Singapore: Clown Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris Cuvier, 1830), Tomato Anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus Brevoort, 1856), Clark's Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii [Bennett, 1830]), Saddleback Anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus [Linnaeus, 1758]) and the Pink Skunk Anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion Bleeker, 1855). |
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| Habitats | Coral Reef, Marine |
| Distribution | Indian Ocean to West Pacific Ocean. In Singapore, found in reefs in the Singapore Straits. |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat destruction from land reclamation and water pollution, uncontrolled collection of fish and host anemones for aquarium trade. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Popular aquarium fish that can be bred in captivity. However, captive-bred fish are considerably more expensive than wild-caught stocks. Although anemonefishes are totally reliant on their host sea anemones in the wild, they can thrive and even breed without them in captivity. |
| Conservation Notes | Habitat protection and strict policing against illegal collecting are required. Promote the sale of captive-bred fish in the aquarium trade. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Vulnerable (VU) [2008], Vulnerable (V) [1994] |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Ng, P.K.L. & Wee, Y.C. (Eds.). 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book (1st Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 343pp |
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