Species · GBIF taxon 2398709
Maroon Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatusAlso known as Spine-cheeked Anemonefish, Spinecheek Anemonefish, Maroon Anemonefish
Maroon clownfish are the largest and most territorial of all anemonefish, easily recognized by the sharp, backward-pointing spines on their cheeks. Females grow up to three times larger than their male mates and aggressively defend their host bubble-tip anemone from any intruders. They maintain a strict size-based hierarchy within their host, where the dominant female controls the breeding territory.
SymbioticMarineTerritorial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Zooplankton
- Copepods
- Algae
Predators
- Groupers
- Snappers
- Moray Eels
ThreatsCoral bleaching, habitat destruction, and over-harvesting for the marine aquarium trade
HabitatsCoral reefs, specifically sheltered lagoons and outer reef slopes hosting bubble-tip anemones
Life span5 to 15 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPomacentridae
- SpeciesPremnas biaculeatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Highly territorial females will aggressively bite hands or fingers that approach their host anemone.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses sharp, backward-pointing cheek spines and a highly aggressive temperament, leading to painful defensive bites.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a deep maroon or dark red body with three white or yellow stripes and prominent spines below the eyes.
- What to do
- Avoid placing hands near their host anemone when diving or maintaining an aquarium.
Responsible observation
- Observe from a distance: Watch their fascinating bobbing swim pattern without getting too close to their host anemone.
- Look for the cheek spines: Spot the distinctive, sharp spines pointing backward just below each eye.
- Identify the female: Look for the significantly larger, darker maroon individual dominating the anemone.
Host Symbiont (c) Alexander Vasenin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)" by krokodiver is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "tomato clownfish, Amphiprion frenatus" by brian.gratwicke is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.