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Blackback anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) — Pomacentridae

Blackback anemonefish

Amphiprion frenatus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Blackback anemonefish (Amphiprion frenatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–12.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The tomato clownfish is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 14 cm and has a bright tomato-red body; juveniles and males have a single white crossbar behind the head, while large females become darker and uniformly red. It lives in lagoon reefs and bays in symbiosis with large sea anemones: thanks to a protective mucus layer it is immune to the stinging cells and shelters among them from predators. Each anemone hosts a monogamous pair with a dominant female. All individuals are born male; the largest changes into a female (protandry). As an omnivore it feeds on zooplankton, algae and small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackback anemonefish?

The Blackback anemonefish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Blackback anemonefish live?

The Blackback anemonefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blackback anemonefish get?

The Blackback anemonefish grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Blackback anemonefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackback anemonefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackback anemonefish edible?

The Blackback anemonefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tomaatclownvis sourced
English name
Blackback anemonefish verified
Scientific name
Amphiprion frenatus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Bridled anemonefish; Clownfish; Fire clown; Onebar anemonefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protandrous (male first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Amphiprion

More from the family Pomacentridae

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