Allard's clownfish (Amphiprion allardi)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Ovalentaria incertae sedis · Family: Pomacentridae · Genus: Amphiprion.

Accepted name: Amphiprion allardi · Authority: Klausewitz, 1970 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212771.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212771 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Amphiprion allardi. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 1–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit lagoons and outer reefs. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 2prion05). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205).

Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Associated with the anemones: Entacmaea quadricolor , Heteractis aurora , and Stichodactyla mertensii (Ref. 5911). Can be bred and reared in captivity (Ref. 12484, 35424).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 11836) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-allardi.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

424 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion allardi are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 47 distinct locations from a sample of 424 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Tanzania, United Republic of (138); South Africa (116); Kenya (90); Mozambique (51); Réunion (10); Mayotte (7); Madagascar (5); French Southern Territories (3); Seychelles (2); Indonesia (1); Chinese Taipei (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Watamu; Chinese Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212110) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212110&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212771 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Amphiprion allardi Klausewitz, 1970 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 188470) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188470/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212110) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212110/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes that, in the wild, form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones and are unaffected by the stinging tentacles of the host anemone, see. The sea anemone protects the clownfish from predators, as well as providing food through the scraps left from the anemone's meals and occasional dead anemone tentacles. In return, the clownfish defends the anemone from its predators and parasites.

Clownfish are small-sized, 10 - 18 cm, and depending on species, they are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish color, and many show white bars or patches. Color variations occur between species, most commonly according to distribution, but also based on sex, age, and host anemone. Clownfish are found in warmer waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Red Sea in sheltered reefs or in shallow lagoons.

In a group of clownfish, a strict dominance hierarchy exists. The largest and most aggressive fish is female and is found at the top. Only two clownfish, a male and a female, in a group reproduce through external fertilization. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they develop into males first, and when they mature, become females.

Description

Adults are a dark-brown to black color with two white bars with black edging encircling the body. The caudal fin is white with other fins orange. They have 10-11 dorsal spines, two anal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays, and 15-17 anal soft rays. They reach a maximum length of 14 cm.

Similar species

Allard's anemonefish is almost identical to A. chrysopterus (orange-fin anemonefish) and are distinguished by their geographic location. Allard's anemonefish is similar to the nearby A. latifasciatus (Madagascar anemonefish), but A. latifasciatus has a forked, yellow caudal fin.

Distribution and habitat

Allard's anemonefish is found in east Africa between Kenya and Durban. and east to the Seychelles and Mascarene Islands. They are usually found near to or within the tentacles of their host anemones.

Allard's anemonefish is associated with these species of anemones:

Stichodactyla mertensii Mertens' carpet sea anemone

Etymology

The specific name and the common name honour the aquarist and marine collector Jacques Allard who gave support to the author, Wolfgang Klausewitz's visit to East Africa and who supplied him with many specimens.

Source: Wikipedia: Allard's clownfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allard%27s_clownfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.