Maroon Clownfish Premnas biaculeatus

The Maroon Clownfish or Maroon Anemonefish is unusual in being the only species of the Anemonefish family not in the Amphiprion genus. It is also sometimes called the Spine-cheeked, which is its scientific name, since it is the only clownfish to have a spine sticking out of each cheek. It is native to reefs of the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef.

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.

The female is not only larger but also darker maroon-brown, whereas the juveniles are orange and the males retain more orange in adulthood. There are two main strains across its vast area: the White Stripe and the Gold Stipe. The former has 3 narrow white bands and the latter 3 wider yellow or gold bands.

Actual colour and pattern varies by gender, age and region. White stripes can turn blue and narrow with age, particularly on females. There are 3 main geopgraphic variations in females: Australasia (including East Timor) have white body bars (or grey which they can turn white); bordering the Indian Ocean both female and male have 3 wide, bright yellow bars; and in the centre area between these, the head bar is a dull gold with two greyish-white body bars.

The females are among the largest of the clownfish, reaching over 6 inches long (up to 17cm) but the males are a third or quarter of that length. Its preferred host is bubble-tip anemone.