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Barrier Reef Anemonefish
Amphiprion akindynos Allen, 1972
A Barrier Reef Anemonefish at a depth of 10 m, "Monsa's Unique Bommie II", Great Detached Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, December 1999. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is brown with two black-edged white bars. The first bar crosses the head. The second bar crosses the body at the middle of the dorsal fin. The tail is white.
This species grows to 12 cm in length.
It lives in close association with several species of anemones. The species name akindynos comes from the Greek word meaning safe or without danger. This refers to the condition the fish enjoys while tucked among the tentacles of its host.
Spawning behaviour has been recorded for a number of species of Amphiprion (Allen, 1980). There are three main phases, courtship and nest preparation followed by spawning and nest guarding or incubation. The incubation period lasts for six or seven days and during this time both parents care for the eggs, although the male takes a much more active role in these duties.
The Barrier Reef Anemonefish occurs in tropical marine waters of the south-western Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to northern New South Wales.
The Barrier Reef Anemonefish looks similar to the less-common Orange-fin Anemonefish. This fish however has a black anal fin and the body bars are bluish.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Blue-lip Anemonefish fact sheet
- Clown Anemonefish fact sheet
- Orange-fin Anemonefish fact sheet
- False-Clown Anemonefish fact sheet
- Pink Anemonefish fact sheet
- Red and Black Anemonefish fact sheet
- View a low resolution movie clip (71k) or the movies page for higher resolution versions.
- View the Anemonefishes list
- View the Family Pomacentridae list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1980. The Anemonefishes of the World: Handbook for Aquarists, Divers and Scientists. Aquarium Systems. Pp. 104.
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp.271.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Fautin, D.G. & G.R. Allen. 1992. Anemone Fishes and their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 159.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
