Percula/Orange Clownfish Amphiprion percula

The Percula or Orange Clownfish/Anemonefish is one of the species after which the whole family is named - the orange, white and black painted face of clowns. It is also called the True Percula; the False Percula Clownfish, A. ocellaris, looks similar. The Orange Clownfish is native to shallow waters around Australia's 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 Percula or Orange/True Clownfish typically has an orange body with 3 white bands bordered with black. Authorities say the black borders are much thicker on the Percula than on the similar Ocellaris, but this doesn't always seem to be the case. They both grow to 11cm long.