Skunk clownfish (Amphiprion akallopisos)

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 akallopisos · Authority: Bleeker, 1853 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212770.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphiprion akallopisus Bleeker, 1853; Phalerebus akallopisos (Bleeker, 1853).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212770 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 11 cm · Depth range: 3–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found in shallow inshore reef habitats, often in strong current zones to about 15 m depth (Ref. 48636). Are protandrous hermaphrodites (Ref. 55367). Each pair is monogamous (Ref. 55367).

Each anemone with a large female, a smaller functional male and several stunted juveniles; with the removal of the female, the male changes sex and the largest of the juveniles develops into a functional male (Ref. 4391). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205).

Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Associated with the anemones: Heteractis magnifica , and Stichodactyla mertensii (Ref. 5911). May be reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8017) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-akallopisos.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

569 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion akallopisos are published through GBIF from 21 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 99 distinct locations from a sample of 569 records, omitting 16 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: Thailand (146); Tanzania, United Republic of (80); Madagascar (64); Indonesia (53); Kenya (40); Mayotte (37); Seychelles (28); Mozambique (22); South Africa (21); India (19); Comoros (17); Viet Nam (10); French Southern Territories (9); Philippines (8); Malaysia (4).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Madagascar; Somali Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Comoran Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212090) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212090&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212770 (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 akallopisos Bleeker, 1853 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 188538) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188538/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212090) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212090/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The skunk clownfish is identified by a light orange color, with a single, narrow, white stripe running from the mouth to the caudal peduncle, and can grow as large as 11 cm in length.

Like other anemonefish, the skunk clownfish is a protandrous hermaphrodite, and maintains a hierarchy within the host anemone that consists of a mating pair, of which the female is the largest, and non-mating males which get progressively smaller in size.

Color variations

A. akallopisos does not have a melanistic variation when associated with Stichodactyla mertensii unlike some other species of anemonefish, including A. chrysogaster, A. chrysopterus, A. clarkii and A. tricinctus.

Territorial behaviors

The skunk clownfish, and other clownfish, use sound production to defend their territory. This behavior is most common with damselfishes that produce a wide variety of sounds, a behavior shared with at least 10 species of anemonefish.

Sounds resembling pops and chirps are most commonly heard when interacting with invading fish of the same species or different species. Studies have shown that it is the female that defends the anemone using sound production, as well as a physical charge when other fishes attempt to enter. A. akallopisos exhibit three different types of sounds, pops, short chirps, and long chirps, used depending on the type and duration of the encounter, which can also vary by locality.

Similar species

The mid-dorsal stripe and absence of head and body bars distinguishes A. akallopisos from most anemonefish except the orange anemonefish A. sandaracinos and they have an overlapping distribution around Java and Sumatra. The skunk anemonefish has a narrower stripe that does not reach the upper lip. A. sandaracinos, as its common name suggests, is a bright orange, while A. akallopisos is paler, tending to be more pink than orange.

Distribution and habitat

A. akallopisos is found in the Indian Ocean from Java and the Java Sea, western and southern coasts of Sumatra, the west coast of Thailand and north to the Andaman Islands west to Madagascar, Comoro Islands and Seychelles.

Usually commensal with the sea anemones:

Stichodactyla mertensii Mertens' carpet sea anemone

Source: Wikipedia: Amphiprion akallopisos — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprion_akallopisos (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.