Species · GBIF taxon 5212106
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellarisAlso known as False Percula Clownfish, Common Clownfish, Anemone Demoiselle, Ocellaris Anemonefish
Ocellaris clownfish live in a strict social hierarchy within the stinging tentacles of host sea anemones, which protect them from predators in exchange for grooming and defense. Born as males, the largest and most dominant individual in a group will transition into a female to lead the colony. Their bright orange bodies, broken by three vivid white bands outlined in thin black borders, make them unmistakable residents of Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
SymbioticReef DwellerColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Zooplankton
- Copepods
- Algae
Predators
- Groupers
- Moray Eels
- Snappers
ThreatsCoral bleaching, habitat destruction, and over-collection for the marine aquarium trade.
HabitatsCoral reefs, sheltered lagoons, and shallow coastal waters, always in association with host sea anemones.
Life span6 to 10 years in the wild, often longer in captivity.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyPomacentridae
- GenusAmphiprion
- SpeciesAmphiprion ocellaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Look for the host: Scan sea anemones like Heteractis magnifica or Stichodactyla gigantea on shallow reefs to spot them.
- Keep your distance: Avoid touching the host anemone, as its stinging tentacles can cause painful skin irritation.
- Watch their behavior: Observe how they aggressively defend their territory, even darting toward divers who get too close.
Host Symbiont Nhobgood Nick Hobgood / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableHost Symbiont 
Close Relative Adrian Pingstone at en.wikipedia / Public domain · cc0
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
Close Relative Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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