Tomato clownfish

Appearance

The adult fish is bright orange-red, with a white head bar or vertical stripe just behind the eyes, joined over the head and with a distinctive black outline. Females are mainly blackish on the sides. Males are considerably smaller and are red overall. Juveniles are a darker red, with two or three white bars. They have 9-10 dorsal spines, 2 anal spines, 16-18 dorsal soft rays and 13-15 anal soft rays. They reach a maximum length of 14 cm .

Naming

The Australian clownfish has a similar coloration, however the female does not have the distinctive black outline of the white band, the band is poorly developed and may be discontinuous on top of the head. Geographic location is the easiest way to distinguish small juveniles as they are otherwise difficult to distinguish. The cinnamon clownfish is also similar, but has a broader white headbar and outside Melanesia it has black pelvic and anal fins.

Distribution

This species is found as far north as Ryukyu Islands, Japan, to the South China Sea and surrounding areas including Malaysia and Indonesia.

Some authors report that this species is associated with a single species of anemone, the bubble-tip anemone . Other authorities report that it may be associated with the sebae anemone , as well.

Habitat

This species is found as far north as Ryukyu Islands, Japan, to the South China Sea and surrounding areas including Malaysia and Indonesia.

Some authors report that this species is associated with a single species of anemone, the bubble-tip anemone . Other authorities report that it may be associated with the sebae anemone , as well.