Amphiprion fuscocaudatus

Amphiprion fuscocaudatus (the Seychelles anemonefish) is a marine fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, the clownfishes and damselfishes.

Amphiprion fuscocaudatus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Amphiprion
Species:
A. fuscocaudatus
Binomial name
Amphiprion fuscocaudatus
Allen 1972

Characteristics of Anemonefish
Main article: Amphiprioninae (anemonefish)

Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes that, in the wild, form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones and are unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host anemone, see Amphiprioninae § Symbiosis and mutualism. The sea anemone protects the clownfish from predators, as well as providing food through the scraps left from the anemone's meals and occasional dead anemone tentacles. In return, the clownfish defends the anemone from its predators, and parasites.[2] Clownfish are small-sized, 10–18 centimetres (3.9–7.1 in), and depending on species, they are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish color, and many show white bars or patches. Within species there may be color variations, most commonly according to distribution, but also based on sex, age and host anemone. Clownfish are found in warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans and the Red Sea in sheltered reefs or in shallow lagoons.

In a group of clownfish, there is a strict dominance hierarchy. The largest and most aggressive fish is female and is found at the top. Only two clownfish, a male and a female, in a group reproduce through external fertilization. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning that they develop into males first, and when they mature, they become females.

Description

The body of A. fuscocaudatus is dark brown to blackish, with the white bars and yellow or orange snout, breast, belly, pelvic and anal fins. The caudal fin has a dark central area and longitudinal streaks separated with lighter areas. They have 11 dorsal spines, 2 anal spines, 15-16 dorsal soft rays and 14 anal soft rays.[3] They reach a maximum length of 14 cm (5 1⁄2 in).[4]

Color variations

None known.

Similar species

A. chrysogaster is very similar however its caudal fin is uniformly dark with just a narrow white margin.[4]

Distribution and Habitat

A. fuscocaudatus is found only in the Seychelles Islands and Aldabra in the western Indian Ocean.[4].

Host anemones

A. fuscocaudatus is associated with the following species of anemone:

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References
  1. Myers, R.; Rocha, L.A. & Allen, G. (2017). "Amphiprion fuscocaudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T188508A1885612. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T188508A1885612.en.
  2. "Clown Anemonefish". Nat Geo Wild : Animals. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Amphiprion fuscocaudatus" in FishBase. November 2014 version.
  4. Fautin, Daphne G.; Allen, Gerald R. (1992). Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and Their Host Sea Anemones. Western Australian Museum. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7309-5216-9.
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