Amphiprion akindynos avoid being preyed on by other larger fish by staying in and around their host anemone. As described above, they have a substance in the mucous covering their bodies, making it possible for them to touch the tentacles and not get stung. Predators will avoid getting stung by the tentacles of the host anemone and thus A. akindynos will be safe from larger fish. They may occasionally be preyed on when they are away from a host anemone, either as juveniles looking for a host, or when ejected from their host territory by another anemonefish.
Known Predators:
The body and head of adult A. akindynos are both a brownish orange color. Two black-edged white bars encircle the body. The first bar runs across the top of the head just behind the eye and can be discontinuous and constricted (thin). The second stripe runs around the body at the mid portion of the dorsal fin. The caudal peduncle and caudal fin are both white. Amphiprion akindynos individuals have 10 to 11 dorsal spines, 14 to 17 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines, and 13 to 14 soft anal rays.
Juveniles are usually brown with three thick white bars. Sub-adults are usually yellow with two thin white bars. Both adults and juveniles and are often confused with A. clarkii and A. chrysopterus. However, A. clarkii have a more distinct color difference between their body and tail than adult A. akindynos and A. chrysopterus tend to have a darker orange color with bluish bars.
Average mass: 27.5 g.
Range length: 45 to 130 mm.
Average length: 90 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Individuals generally live between 6 and 10 years in the wild. However, as noted earlier, there is a high mortality rate during the larval, fry, and juvenile stages, which correspond to life stages when the fish do not necessarily have the protection of a host anemone.
They have been known to live up to 18 years in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 18 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 6 to 10 years.
Amphiprion akindynos inhabits reef waters and lagoons between 1 and 25 meters deep with temperatures ranging from 10 to 32 degrees Celsius. They are found in nature swimming in and closely around the tentacles of their host anemone. They are able to live and make shelter among the tentacles of anemones without being harmed by the nematocysts (stinging cells) present on the anemone’s tentacles. According to Allen (1980), A. akindynos are protected from possible stings by a special substance which is present in their external mucous covering. This substance does not actually protect them from the stinging cells. “Instead, it lowers the threshold of nematocyst discharge. In other words, it prevents the stinging cells from firing.” Host species of anemone for A. akindynos are: Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, H. crispa, H. magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni, and S. mertensii.
Range depth: 1 to 25 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: reef
Barrier Reef anemonefish use visual cues to communicate among themselves. Chemical communication via their protective mucous covering is essential to their symbiosis with anemones.
Communication Channels: visual ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Barrier Reef anemonefish are not listed as endangered on any international database.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
The larval period of A. akindynos ranges from about 8 to 12 days. Although not known for certain, many believe that during this period the larvae are planktonic, “living in the surface waters of the ocean, where they are passively transported by currents” (Fautin and Allen, 1992). At the end of this period, the fish will descend to the bottom of the sea and begin to acquire the color patterns associated with juveniles. Once they get to the bottom, the young will begin to search for a host anemone. Without the protection of the anemone there is a high likelihood that a fish will be eaten by its predators and there is evidence that there is a high mortality rate at this stage of development (Fautin and Allen, 1992).
Arvedlund et. al. (2000) have found evidence that A. akindynos imprint onto their host anemone during their larval stage and are able to follow a trail of chemicals released by this host anemone, thus allowing these fish to return to the same species of host anemone to live and spawn. However, once returning to their host anemone a fish cannot simply swim into the anemone because it may get stung. According to Fautin and Allen (1992) it can take several hours to become fully acclimated to the anemone once it is located. The acclimation process consists of a series of progressively longer contacts with the tentacles. A. akindynos are initially protected from nematocyst stings by a thick mucus coat. However, over the acclimation process, the clownfish incorporates anemone mucus into its own coat until the anemone no longer stings it, apparently recognizing the fish as part of itself.
Even once a fish locates a host anemone it is not guaranteed a place to live. Within the anemone, there is an intricate social hierarchy. All A. akindynos begin life as males. Within a given anemone, the largest fish is the female and the next largest fish is her mate. There can be several other males in this structure; however, they generally do not have much chance of mating. If the female dies, the next largest male will become a female and the second largest male will become the new mate. In this structure the female is the dominant fish and her mate is the second most dominate. The remainder of the fish must compete and fight for a place in the anemone.
(Fautin and Allen, 1992; Arvedlund et al., 2000)
There are no negative affects of anemonefish on humans.
Amphiprion akindynos is popular in the aquarium trade and is an important member of the ecosystems in which they live. They contribute to the color and interest of reef ecosystems, thereby attracting tourism. Amphiprion species are important as research organisms in understanding mutualism.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; ecotourism ; research and education
Amphiprion akindynos have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with their host anemones. This arrangement works for both Amphiprion akindynos and their host. Without the anemone’s protection and shelter, Amphiprion akindynos are quickly consumed. Conversely Amphiprion akindynos fight off intruders, such as anemone-eating butterflyfish that would otherwise prey on the anemone. Additionally there may be some benefit to the anemone from the fishes’ feeding. Bits of food may drop onto the host and help feed it. It has also been suggested that the fish assists in keeping the anemone clean. The fish moving in and out of the anemone helps to create currents of water, which assist bringing food to the anemone and also in keeping it free of debris.
Species Used as Host:
Barrier Reef anemonefish primarily eat algae and zooplankton. Copepods and larval tunicates are among the most common items found when their stomach contents are analyzed. The adult pair of fish (the female and her mate) are the largest fish in the social hierarchy. They tend to stray further from the host anemone to gather food than do the smaller non-dominate fish. It is speculated that one reason for the rapid growth of the mate and the second dominate male when the female dies is that the fish can spend more time feeding and less time competing for a place to live.
Animal Foods: aquatic or marine worms; aquatic crustaceans; echinoderms; cnidarians; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton
Plant Foods: phytoplankton
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats non-insect arthropods); planktivore
Amphiprion akindynos, also known as the Barrier Reef anemonefish or clownfish, is native to the Western Pacific. Amphiprion akindynos is primarily found in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia and in the adjacent Coral Sea. It has also been found in waters off of northern New South Wales, New Caledonia, sections of the Indian Ocean and around the Loyalty Islands. There is some question as to whether A. akindynos also inhabits the waters around Sri Lanka.
Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )
Mated pairs occupy the same anemone. Several days prior to spawning, there is increased social interaction between A. akindynos males and females. Usually the male becomes more aggressive and will pursue and bite his mate. He also displays himself either in front of his mate or beside her by fully extending his dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. During this time, the male also selects a nest site, usually on bare rock adjacent to the host anemone. The male will spend considerable time clearing the site of algae and debris using his mouth. Sometimes the female will join in. Spawning usually occurs during the morning hours and can last from about 30 minutes to more than two hours. The female will swim in a zig-zag path over the nest with her belly brushing its surface. This brushing causes several eggs from her ovipositor to be dislodged. The male will follow behind the female and fertilize the eggs as they are laid. This will continue until all eggs have been dislodged.
Mating System: monogamous
The number of eggs deposited can range from about 100 to over 1000, depending on the size of the fish and on previous experience. The eggs are elliptical and are about 3 to 4 mm in length. They adhere to the nest surface by a tuft of short filaments. The eggs will incubate six to seven days before hatching.
Barrier reef anemonefish are hermaphroditic, with young developing into males first and only later into females if conditions are appropriate.
Breeding interval: Breeding intervals in the wild are unknown.
Breeding season: Breeding may occur throughout the year.
Range number of offspring: 100 to 1000.
Range gestation period: 6 to 7 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; sequential hermaphrodite (Protandrous ); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Barrier Reef anemonefish are nesters. Males guard the nest from predators and fan the nest with the pectoral fins to remove debris.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male)
Amphiprion akindynos és una espècie de peix de la família dels pomacèntrids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.[3]
Viu a zones de clima subtropical (10°S - 32°S ), a 1-25 m de fondària[4] i associat a les anemones Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni i Stichodactyla mertensii.[6]
Es troba al Pacífic occidental: est d'Austràlia (Gran Barrera de Corall i nord de Nova Gal·les del Sud), Nova Caledònia, les Illes Loyauté i Tonga.[7][4]
Pot ésser criat en captivitat.[8]
Amphiprion akindynos és una espècie de peix de la família dels pomacèntrids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.
Der Barriereriff-Anemonenfisch (Amphiprion akindynos) lebt in den Korallenriffen des Great Barrier Reef an der Küste des nordöstlichen Australien, bei Neu-Kaledonien und den Loyaltyinseln.
Der Körper des Fisches ist an den Flanken braun, die Unterseite orange. Zwei breite, weißblaue Querstreifen ziehen sich über den Körper, der erste direkt hinter dem Auge, der zweite beginnt in der Mitte der Rückenflosse. Die Schwanzflosse ist weiß. Die Rückenflosse hat zehn bis elf Hart- und 14 bis 17 Weichstrahlen, die Afterflosse zwei Hart- und 13 bis 14 Weichstrahlen. Amphiprion akindynos wird 12 bis 13 Zentimeter lang. Er wurde schon im Aquarium nachgezüchtet.
Er akzeptiert sechs Symbioseanemonenarten als Partner.
Der Barriereriff-Anemonenfisch (Amphiprion akindynos) lebt in den Korallenriffen des Great Barrier Reef an der Küste des nordöstlichen Australien, bei Neu-Kaledonien und den Loyaltyinseln.
Amphiprion akindynos, the Barrier Reef anemonefish, is a species of anemonefish that is principally found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, but also in nearby locations in the Western Pacific. The species name 'akindynos' is Greek, meaning 'safe' or 'without danger' in reference to the safety afforded amongst the tentacles of its host anemone.[2] Like all anemonefishes it forms a symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones and is unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host anemone. It is a sequential hermaphrodite with a strict size-based dominance hierarchy: the female is largest, the breeding male is second largest, and the male non-breeders get progressively smaller as the hierarchy descends.[3] They exhibit protandry, meaning the breeding male will change to female if the sole breeding female dies, with the largest non-breeder becomes the breeding male.[4] The fish's natural diet includes zooplankton.[4]
Adults are an orange-brown colour with two white bars with black edging encircling the body. The first bar is located on the head behind the eyes and may be thin and broken. The second bar is on the body below the dorsal fin. The caudal peduncle and caudal fin are white. Juveniles are normally brown with three white stripes. In sub-adults the colouring changes to a dull yellow with two white stripes. They have 10 to 11 dorsal spines and 2 anal spines. They reach a maximum length of 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in).[4]
Some anemonefish species have colour variations based on geographic location, sex and host anemone. A. akindynos does not show any of these variations.[4]
The white bars on A. akindynos are generally narrower than A. clarkii and lacks the abrupt transition between the body colour and white caudal fin. A. clarkii may have a yellow caudal fin. Adult A. chrysopterus are darker while the head bar is broader and not constricted or discontinuous.[4] Traditionally A. akindynos was included in the clarkii complex, however genetic analysis has shown that it is significantly different from any of the other species in the clarkii complex and instead is part of a clade with A. mccullochi.[5][6] Further study suggested an evolutionary connectivity among between samples of A. akindynos and A. mccullochi. Historical hybridization and introgression in the evolutionary past resulted in a complex mitochondrial DNA structure. There were two evolutionary groups with individuals of both species detected in both, thus the species lacked reciprocal monophyly. There were no shared haplotypes between species.[7]
A. akindynos (Barrier Reef anemonefish)
A. clarkii (Clark's anemonefish)
A. chrysopterus (Orange-fin anemonefish), Palau
The genetically related A. mccullochi
The Barrier Reef anemonefish is found in lagoons and outer reefs in the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, northern New South Wales, New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and Tonga.[4] A. akindynos has been thought to be limited to depths of less than 25 m,[2] however surveys using autonomous underwater vehicles of mesophotic reefs at Viper Reef and Hydrographers Passage in the central Great Barrier Reef observed A. akindynos at depths between 50 and 65 m.[8]
The relationship between anemonefish and their host sea anemones is not random and instead is highly nested in structure.[9] A. akindynos is a generalist, being hosted by the following 6 out of the 10 host anemones: [4][2][9]
The Barrier Reef anemonefish is a nesting fish. A few days before mating, aggression from the dominant male towards the female increases, and at the same time he begins clearing a nest site, usually on a rock close to the host anemone. The rock is cleaned of algae, sometimes with the assistance of the female. When spawning takes place the female zig-zags over the nest site and the male follows fertilizing the eggs which have been deposited. Between 100 and 1000 elliptical eggs of between 3 and 4 mm in length may be laid. They are attached to the nest site by a mass of short filaments. The male guards and aerates the eggs for 6 to 7 days until they hatch.[2] The larvae are then dispersed by currents and swimming. Larvae mortality is high, with most of the surviving larvae settling on the original reef.
The diet of the Barrier Reef anemonefish consists primarily of algae (seaweeds) and zooplankton.[10] The dominant pair in the social hierarchy tend to travel farther from the host anemone in order to find food. The host anemone may benefit from small pieces of food which the anemonefish drop when feeding.
Anemonefish and their host anemones are found on coral reefs and face similar environmental issues. Like corals, anemone's contain intracellular endosymbionts, zooxanthellae, and can suffer from bleaching due to triggers such as increased water temperature or acidification. The other threat to anemonefish is collection for the marine aquarium trade.[11] The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages collection by zoning reefs as open or closed and normally a breeding pair of adults or sub-adults is removed, leaving at least one anemonefish behind.[12] While bleaching was found to be a cause of anemone and anemonefish decline in the Keppel Islands, anemones and anemonefish were still present on bleached reefs in the closed zones however they were absent from bleached reefs in the open zones, suggesting that collection compounds the impact of bleaching.[12] A survey published in 2014 found 58% of sites surveyed on the Great Barrier Reef did not have anemones or anemonefishes, and at sites where they were present, numbers were generally low and suggested that current regulations may not be sufficient to prevent localised extinctions nor to ensure that reproductive success is not adversely impacted.[11] This species was not evaluated in the 2012 release of the IUCN Red List.
The Barrier Reef anemonefish was officially named as the state aquatic emblem of Queensland in March, 2005.[13]. The idea to identify an Aquatic Emblem originated from Dr Adam Smith and the Australian Underwater Federation, the peak group representing divers [14]
Amphiprion akindynos, the Barrier Reef anemonefish, is a species of anemonefish that is principally found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, but also in nearby locations in the Western Pacific. The species name 'akindynos' is Greek, meaning 'safe' or 'without danger' in reference to the safety afforded amongst the tentacles of its host anemone. Like all anemonefishes it forms a symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones and is unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host anemone. It is a sequential hermaphrodite with a strict size-based dominance hierarchy: the female is largest, the breeding male is second largest, and the male non-breeders get progressively smaller as the hierarchy descends. They exhibit protandry, meaning the breeding male will change to female if the sole breeding female dies, with the largest non-breeder becomes the breeding male. The fish's natural diet includes zooplankton.
Amphiprion akindynos es una especie de peces de la familia Pomacentridae, en el orden de los Perciformes.
Pertenecen a los denominados peces payaso, o peces anémona, y viven en una relación mutualista con anémonas Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, H. crispa, H. magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni y S. mertensii.
Su nombre común en inglés es barrier reef anemonefish, o pez anémona de barrera de arrecife.[2]
La coloración base de cabeza y cuerpo es naranja amarronado, con dos barras verticales blancas, ribeteadas en negro, atravesando el cuerpo. La primera, discurre desde la parte superior de la cabeza, detrás del ojo, hasta las agallas, y puede ser discontinua y delgada; la segunda, desde la mitad de la aleta dorsal hasta el ano. El hocico, boca y barbilla son blancos, así como el pedúnculo y la aleta caudales. El resto de aletas y el vientre son de la coloración base. Los juveniles suelen ser marrones, con tres gruesas barras blancas, los subadultos son amarillos con dos barras finas.[3]
Cuentan con 10-11 espinas y 14-17 radios blandos dorsales; y, dos espinas y 13-14 radios blandos anales.
Las hembras pueden llegar a alcanzar los 13 cm de longitud total, aunque el tamaño medio de adulto son 9 cm.[2][4][3]
Es hermafrodita secuencial protándrico,[5] esto significa que todos los alevines son machos, y que tienen la facultad de convertirse en hembras, cuando la situación jerárquica en el grupo lo permite, siendo el ejemplar mayor del clan el que se convierte en la hembra dominante, ya que se organizan en matriarcados.[6]
Su género es algo fácil de identificar, ya que la hembra, teóricamente es la más grande del clan. Cuando ésta muere, el pequeño macho dominante se convierte en una hembra. En cualquier caso, son monógamos.
Son desovadores bénticos. El número de huevos oscila entre 100 y 1000 por puesta, dependiendo del tamaño y experiencia de la madre. Los huevos son demersales, de forma elíptica, y de entre 3 y 4 mm de tamaño.[7] La reproducción se produce en cuanto comienza a elevarse la temperatura del agua, aunque, como habitan en aguas tropicales, se pueden reproducir casi todo el año. El macho prepara el lugar de la puesta, en un sustrato duro cercano a una anémona, y, tras realizar las maniobras del cortejo, espera a que la hembra fije los huevos allí, y los fertiliza. Posteriormente, agita sus aletas periódicamente para oxigenar los embriones, y elimina los que están en mal estado. Tras un periodo de 6-7 días, cuando los alevines se liberan, no reciben atención alguna de sus padres. Deambulan en aguas superficiales en fase larval durante 8 a 12 días, posteriormente descienden al fondo en busca de una anémona, y mutan a su coloración juvenil.
Se alimentan de algas marinas, invertebrados bentónicoss, y zooplancton, especialmente copépodos y larvas de tunicados.[3]
Su hábitat está asociado a arrecifes de coral, en zonas de clima subtropical (10°S - 32°S ), los adultos normalmente se hallan en lagunas y arrecifes exteriores.[8] Viven en una relación mutualista con anémonas Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, H. crispa, H. magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni y S. mertensii.[9]
Su rango de profundidad es entre 1-25 m,[4] aunque se reportan localizaciones de ejemplares hasta los 66.92 metros.[10] Su rango de temperaturas oscila entre 10 y 32° C.[3]
Se encuentra en el Pacífico occidental: este de Australia (Gran Barrera de Coral y norte de Nueva Gales del Sur), Nueva Caledonia, las Islas de la Lealtad, Vietnam y Tonga. Siendo cuestionable su presencia permanente en Filipinas y Sri Lanka.[11]
Puede ser criado en cautividad.
Amphiprion akindynos es una especie de peces de la familia Pomacentridae, en el orden de los Perciformes.
Pertenecen a los denominados peces payaso, o peces anémona, y viven en una relación mutualista con anémonas Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, H. crispa, H. magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni y S. mertensii.
Su nombre común en inglés es barrier reef anemonefish, o pez anémona de barrera de arrecife.
Amphiprion akindynos Amphiprion generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Pomacentridae familian sailkatzen da.
Amphiprion akindynos Amphiprion generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Pomacentridae familian sailkatzen da.
Le Poisson-clown de la grande barrière[1] (Amphiprion akindynos) est une espèce de poissons osseux de la famille des pomacentridés.
Le Poisson-clown de la grande barrière est répartie dans le Pacifique Ouest : Est de l'Australie (Grande barrière de corail et mer de corail, nord de la Nouvelle Galle du Sud), Nouvelle-Calédonie, et îles Loyauté[2].
Le Poisson-clown de la grande barrière forme des associations avec les anémones de mer Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis aurora, Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla haddoni, et Stichodactyla mertensii[2].
Le Poisson-clown de la grande barrière (Amphiprion akindynos) est une espèce de poissons osseux de la famille des pomacentridés.
Amphiprion akindynos is een straalvinnige vissensoort uit de familie van rifbaarzen of koraaljuffertjes (Pomacentridae).[1] De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1972 door Allen.
Bronnen, noten en/of referenties
大堡礁雙鋸魚，為輻鰭魚綱鱸形目隆頭魚亞目雀鯛科的其中一種。該物種的模式產地在斯里蘭卡。
本魚分布於西太平洋區，包括澳洲東部、新喀里多尼亞、東加等海域。
水深1至25公尺。
本魚體側扁，口小。稚魚體色具有3條白褐色縱帶，成魚體褐橙色，體具有2條鑲黑邊的白色橫帶，一條在眼後，一條在背鰭基部，尾柄及尾鰭為白色。背鰭硬棘10至11枚；背鰭軟條14至17枚；臀鰭硬棘2枚；臀鰭軟條13至14枚。體長可達9公分。
本魚生活在珊瑚礁區，與海葵共生，為母系社會，即一尾雌魚配數尾雄魚，當雌魚死亡時，其中一尾雄魚會性轉變為雌魚。繁殖期時，具有領域性，屬雜食性，以藻類及小型無脊椎動物為食。
為高經濟價值的觀賞魚。
