Clark's Anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett 1830)


Other Names: Yellowtail Clownfish

Clark's Anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii, at the Abrolhos islands, Western Australia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC BY Attribution

Summary:
An orange to almost black anemonefish with three white bars, including one across the caudal peduncle. the middle bar is the broadest. The caudal fins is either white or yellow, and the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are variably coloured ranging from yellowish-orange to blackish. 

Video of Clark's Anemonefish near Madang, Papua New Guinea.
Video of a pair of Clark's Anemonefish with eggs in Indonesia.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Amphiprion clarkii in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/316

Clark's Anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett 1830)

More Info


Distribution

Houtman Abrolhos, WA (28°30'S) to Darwin, NT (12°23'S) also Rowley Shoals (17°20'S) and Scott Reef (14°03'S), WA and Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea (12°15'S) and North Direction Island, Great Barrier Reef (14°45'S) to off Palm Beach (28°07'S), QLD, and Osprey Reef, Coral Sea (13°58'S), also Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands; tropical, Indo-west Pacific.

Species Citation

Anthias clarkii Bennett, 1830, A selection from the most remarkable and interesting fishes found on the coast of Ceylon First Edition 6: 29, pl. 29. Type locality: Ceylon.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Resources


Clark's Anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett 1830)

References


Allen, G.R. 1972. Anemonefishes, their Classification and Biology. Neptune CityNew Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 288 pp., 140 figs.

Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Melle, Germany : Mergus Verlag 271 pp.

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.

Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C.& Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2, 284 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

Bos, A.R. 2011. Clownfishes Amphiprion clarkii and A. sandaracinos (Pomacentridae) coexist in the sea anemone Stichodactyla mertensii. Coral Reefs 30(2): 369.

Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S.J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 184–202.

Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S .J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: new records, community composition and biogeographic significance. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 203–219.

Kuiter, R.H. 1997. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers I-xvii, 434 pp.

Larson, H.K. & Williams, R.S. 1997. Darwin Harbour fishes: a survey and annotated checklist. pp. 339-380 in Hanley, H.R., Caswell, G., Megirian, D. & Larson, H.K. (eds). The Marine Flora and Fauna of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. Proceedings of the Sixth International Marine Biology Workshop. Darwin : Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 466 pp.

Larson, H.K., Williams, R.S. & Hammer, M.P. 2013. An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia. Zootaxa 3696(1): 1-293.

Moyer, J.T. 1986. Longevity of the anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii at Miyake-jima, Japan with notes on four other species. Copeia 1986(1): 135-139.

Moyer, J.T. & Nakazono, A. 1978. Protandrous hermaphroditism in six species of the anemonefish genus Amphiprion in Japan. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 25(2): 101-106.

Parmentier E, Colleye O, Fine M L, Frédérich B, Vandewalle P, Herrel A. 2007. Sound Production in the Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii Science 316: 1006.

Parmentier E, Colleye O, Mann D. 2009. Hearing ability in three clownfish species Journal of Experimental Biology 212: 2023-2026.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37372007

Behaviour:Lives with anemones

Biology:Capable of changing sex

Depth:1-55 m

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:14 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map