Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae  Damselfishes

Amphiprion clarkii  

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:  To 12 cm (4.75 in). Black to entirely orange with pair of white or pale blue bars. Second bar wide; tail white or yellowish; other fins variably black to yellow-orange. There is also an orange variation: some are entirely pale orange, other than the two white bands; others have a dark patch on rear body.  (See remarks)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf to Micronesia, New Caledonia and Fiji. Also Southwest Japan to northern Australia. Depth 1–55 meters (3-180 ft.) in outer reef slopes, less typically inhabit lagoons. Symbiotic with 10 species of sea anemones. Non-migratory.

DIET IN THE WILD:  Primarily planktonic copepods and benthic algae.

REPRODUCTION:  Monogamous; oviparous. Fertilization is external; benthic spawners; parents create a nest and male guards eggs. Are protandrous hermaphrodites; all mature as males In the absence of a female, the largest juvenile will mature within 5–6 months into the breeding male. The maturation of the smaller (all male) juveniles is stunted by the adult pair’s presence.

REMARKS: Coloration is apparently influenced by the host sea anemone species. Symbiotic with several anemones found in the Steinhart including Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis crispa, H. magnifica.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04 and Water Planet

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