Home · Pomacentridae · Skunk anemonefish
Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) — Pomacentridae

Skunk anemonefish

Amphiprion akallopisos
Family: Pomacentridae

The Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–25.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Myanmar, China, Comoros, Bassas da India, Indonesia, Kenya and others

Want the complete picture on the Skunk anemonefish?

Get the app

Description

The Skunk anemonefish is an anemonefish (Pomacentridae). The species is from the Indian Ocean, grows to about 11 cm and has a pink-orange body with a narrow white stripe along the back, without crossbars. It lives in symbiosis with large sea anemones, protected from the stinging cells by a special mucus layer, and rarely strays far from its host. It eats zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Skunk anemonefish?

The Skunk anemonefish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Skunk anemonefish live?

The Skunk anemonefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Africa: Myanmar, China, Comoros, Bassas da India, Indonesia, Kenya and others

How big does the Skunk anemonefish get?

The Skunk anemonefish grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Skunk anemonefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Skunk anemonefish 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.

More photos

Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Roberto Pillon (CC BY 3.0)
Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) — Pomacentridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — portioid (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Skunk anemonefish (Amphiprion akallopisos) — Pomacentridae — 5
feinerr (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Skunk anemonefish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Skunk anemonefish sourced
Scientific name
Amphiprion akallopisos
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Nosestripe anemonefish; Nosestriped anemonefish; Sea anemone; Skunk anemonefish; Skunk clownfish; Clown fish; Skunk striped anemonefish; Skunk-striped anemonefish; Western skunk anemonefish; Whitebacked clownfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Myanmar, China, Comoros, Bassas da India, Indonesia, Kenya and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
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 Amphiprion

More from the family Pomacentridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Skunk anemonefish?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Skunk anemonefish? Get the app