McCulloch's Anemonefish, Amphiprion mccullochi (Whitley, 1929)

Scientific name: Amphiprion mccullochi
  • Updated
    31/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
McCulloch's Anemonefish, <i>Amphiprion mccullochi</i> Click to enlarge image
McCulloch's Anemonefish, Amphiprion mccullochi, at a depth of 2m to 3m, Lord Howe Island lagoon, New South Wales, December 2005. Image: John Pogonoski
© John Pogonoski

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Amphiprion
    Species
    mccullochi
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 12 cm in length.

Introduction

McCulloch's Anemonefish is endemic to Australia, occurring in lagoon and inshore waters of Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef, New South Wales. It is usually found associated with the anemones Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa.

Identification

McCulloch's Anemonefish can be recognised by its colouration. It is dark brown to black with a whitish snout. The white bars on the cheek usually do not connect over the top of the head. The caudal peduncle and caudal fin are white.

The species, which was named after Allan McCulloch, was described based on specimens collected at Lord Howe Island. The specimens are stored in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (holotype - AMS IA.1962: paratypes - AMS I.5392, AMS I.5729–30, AMS IA.1963–67).

Habitat

It is usually found associated with the anemones Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis crispa at depths between 2 m and 45 m.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in lagoon and inshore waters of Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef, New South Wales.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Whitley, G.P. 1929. Some fishes of the order Amphiprioniformes. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 9(3): 207-246.
  2. Coleman, N. 1980. Australia Sea Fishes South of 30°S. Lane Cove, NSW: Doubleday Australia Pty. Ltd. Pp. 309.
  3. Fautin D.G. & Allen. G.R. 1992. Anemone Fishes and their host Sea Anemones. A guide for aquarists and divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 160.