Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Bleniiformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Amphiprion
Species: A. clarkii
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Clark's anemonefish
Clark's anemonefish
Amphiprion clarkii
Amphiprion clarkii
Habitat & Distribution : Reef-associated, at depths of 1 - 70 m, Indo-West Pacific
Diet : Zooplankton, algae and small crustaceans
Size: 10 - 18 cm
Lifespan: 10 - 11 years
Description
Clark's anemonefish has two white stripes on its body and white caudal penducle. The dorsal side is black and fades into orange-yellowish when it reaches ventral. The black pattern will grow wider as they are older.
Behavior
Clark's anemonefish is the least "picky" when picking host anemones. They associate with all ten species of anemones that host anemonefish, including the magnificent sea anemone (Radianthus magnifica) and the giant carpet anemone (Stychodactyla gigantea). Live in groups with strict dominance hierarchies.
Reproduction
Like other anemonefish, they are protandrous hermaphrodites; starting off as males before maturing into females. These fish are monogamous, and the females lay their eggs in nests near anemone for protection. Each nest can carry around 600 - 700 eggs from multiple different spawning, which are carried out 2 - 3 times per month, every full moon. Males are more involved in parental care, while females only check occasionally.
Communication & Perception
They primarily communicate using underwater acoustics by popping their jaws, producing some popping and clicking sounds.
Predator
Moray eels, lionfish, snappers, groupers and other larger predatory fish.
Conservation Status : Least Concern (IUCN Red List; 2022)
Fun Fact
The coloration of a Clark's anemonefish highly varies, depending on its sex, age, location and anemone host. For example, females tend to have white tails, while males have yellow tails. When associating with Merten's giant carpet anemone (S. mertensii), they are almost entirely black with white stripes, without any orange parts.
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