Spine-cheek Clownfish Click to enlarge image
A Spine-cheek Clownfish at a depth of 5m, house reef, Kabaira Dive Resort, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, May 2011. Image: Matt Dowse
© Matt Dowse

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Premnas
    Species
    biaculeatus
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 16 cm in length.

Introduction

The Spine-cheek Clownfish occurs on coral reefs in marine waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The species lives among the tentacles of the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Identification

The Spine-cheek Clownfish can be recognised by its brown to red body, two or three pale (usually white) bands, and a long spine below both eyes.

Habitat

The species lives among the tentacles of the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Distribution

Spine-cheek Clownfish occurs on coral reefs in marine waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

The species feeds on zooplankton and algae.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.