Clark's Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii

Clark's Clownfish or Clark's Anemonefish is native to reefs across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. It accepts most host anemones.

Like all anemonefish, it has a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone for mutual protection. It's skin has a mucus that protects it from the anemone's toxic sting that deters the fish's predators and the territorial fish keeps its host safe by chasing away anemone predators. Also, like all anemonefish, the largest fish in the group is female and reproduces with the largest male. All the others are subordinate males with their own size-based hierarchy. When the female dies or is removed, the largest male becomes female and pairs with the next largest male.

They are quite variable regarding precise body and fin colours across their range and are also similar to several other clownfish species. Generally there is the melanistic body shown and a more two-tone orange and black variant. All have 3 white or blue bars: two main body bands and one just before the tail, the last sometimes interspersed with yellow.

Tails beyond the white caudal band are usually yellow but can be white depending on location and gender. Females grow to 15cm long and males to 10cm.