Maroon clownfish

What it is

This fish is a type of anemonefish distinguished by a sharp spine on its cheek. It belongs to the damselfish family. Adults vary in colour based on sex and location. Females are large and dark, ranging from maroon to brown, while males and juveniles are bright red-orange. The body features three bars that can be white, grey, or yellow. In some regions, older females lose these bars almost entirely. It is one of the largest species in its group.

Where it lives

The species inhabits the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from western Indonesia north to Taiwan and east to the Great Barrier Reef. It is also found in the Malay Archipelago and the Western Pacific. The fish lives in close association with sea anemones, specifically the bubble-tip anemone. It prefers the solitary form of this host. Rare records show it using other anemone species in Papua New Guinea.

How it lives

It feeds on algae and zooplankton. The fish is highly territorial and often outcompetes other clownfish for host anemones. It usually lives as a single mated pair rather than in large groups. A strict size hierarchy exists within any group. The female is the largest, followed by the breeding male. Non-breeding males are smaller. This species is considered the most aggressive of all anemonefish.

Breeding and life cycle

The fish is a sequential hermaphrodite. All individuals start as males. If the dominant female dies, the breeding male changes sex to become female. The largest non-breeding male then becomes the new breeding male. This process is known as protandry. The species has been successfully bred in home aquariums. Selective breeding has produced morphs with jagged, honeycomb-like bar patterns.

Fish and people

Aquarists keep this fish for its striking appearance and behaviour. Due to its large size and aggressive nature, it requires careful tank management. Breeders have created hybrids, such as the blood orange clownfish, by crossing it with other species. These hybrids combine the body shape of one parent with the fiery temperament and size of the maroon clownfish. Wild-caught specimens have shown unique traits like the lightning morph.

Relatives and look-alikes

It was once classified in its own genus, Premnas, due to the cheek spine. Genetic studies now place it within Amphiprion. It is closely related to the percula and ocellaris clownfish. Fish from Sumatra and the Andaman Islands have yellow bars, which once led scientists to think they were a separate species. It is distinct from other anemonefish that have blue-tinged bars.

Questions people ask about Maroon clownfish

Good reading and sources

• Maroon clownfish on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data