Orange-fin anemonefish

Orange-fin anemonefish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Amphiprion
Species: A. chrysopterus
Binomial name
Amphiprion chrysopterus
Cuvier, 1830

The orange-fin anemonefish or orange-fin clownfish, Amphiprion chrysopterus, is a clownfish, found in the Western Pacific north of the Great Barrier Reef from the surface to 20 m, to include the Pacific Ocean between Queensland, Australia and New Guinea to the Marshall and Tuamoto islands. It can grow to 17 cm in length.

It feeds on mainly on planktonic copepods, algae, echiuroid and sipunculoid worms, and pelagic tunicates.

Adults generally inhabit reef passages and slopes. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.[1] Associated with the anemones: Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni, and Stichodactyla mertensii.[2]

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 13 - 14. Body short and deep; the head small. Generally yellow in the body edges, yellow-brown to dark brown in the middle sides, with two white vertical stripes, the first behind the eye and the second before the anus. The fins yellow to orange. Juveniles are a dull orange. The tail fins are generally white or yellow and vary depending on the area of origin (fish in the area surrounding Fiji and Tonga have yellow tails, fish from the Marshall and Solomon Islands have white tails).[3]

References

  1. ↑ Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen 1966 Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
  2. ↑ Fautin, D.G. and G.R. Allen 1992 Field guide to anemonefishes and their host sea anemones. Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth
  3. ↑ Myers, R.F. 1991 Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.