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Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) — Pomacentridae

Spinecheek anemonefish

Premnas biaculeatus
Family: Pomacentridae

The Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) is a fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
17 cm
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; with large sea anemones on reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The spinecheek anemonefish is an anemonefish (Pomacentridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species is bright red to chestnut with three narrow white crossbars and bears, characteristically, a backward-pointing spine on each cheek. Females are much larger than the males. It lives in symbiosis with large sea anemones, protected from the stinging cells, and rarely strays from its host. It feeds on zooplankton and algae. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spinecheek anemonefish?

The Spinecheek anemonefish is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Backward-directed cheek spine; lives in symbiosis with sea anemones, the female much larger than the male.

Where does the Spinecheek anemonefish live?

The Spinecheek anemonefish is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; with large sea anemones on reefs.

How big does the Spinecheek anemonefish get?

The Spinecheek anemonefish grows to a maximum of about 17 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Spinecheek anemonefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Spinecheek anemonefish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Spinecheek anemonefish edible?

The Spinecheek anemonefish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) — Pomacentridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) David Novo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) christiangloor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Nick Hobgood (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — No machine-readable author provided. Svdmolen assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Spinecheek anemonefish sourced
Scientific name
Premnas biaculeatus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Spine-cheek anemonefish; Damselfish; Gold stripe clown; Maroon clownfish; Spinecheek clown; Spine-cheek clownfish; Tomato clownfish

Appearance

Size class
Medium
Max length (cm)
17.0 verified
Average length (cm)
10.2 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

Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; with large sea anemones on reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton and algae sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protandrous (male first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Backward-directed cheek spine; lives in symbiosis with sea anemones, the female much larger than the male. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Pomacentridae

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