Home · Serranidae · Cherry anthias
Cherry anthias (Sacura margaritacea) — Serranidae

Cherry anthias

Sacura margaritacea
Family: Serranidae

The Cherry anthias (Sacura margaritacea) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia, Ogasawara Is.

Want the complete picture on the Cherry anthias?

Get the app

Description

The cherry anthias is a colourful anthias (Anthiadidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off Japan. The species grows to about 13 cm; males are red-pink with pearly spots and elongate fin rays, females orange-yellow. As a reef-dweller it hovers in schools above rocky and coral reefs and picks suspended zooplankton. Like many anthias it changes sex. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cherry anthias?

The Cherry anthias has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Cherry anthias live?

The Cherry anthias lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia, Ogasawara Is.

How big does the Cherry anthias get?

The Cherry anthias grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Cherry anthias dangerous to humans?

No, the Cherry anthias is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cherry anthias?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cherry anthias is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Cherry anthias sourced
Scientific name
Sacura margaritacea
Family
Serranidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Japan, Korea (South), New Caledonia, Ogasawara Is. sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Sacura

More from the family Serranidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cherry anthias?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Cherry anthias is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Cherry anthias? Get the app