Chagos anemonefish (Amphiprion chagosensis)

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 chagosensis · Authority: Allen, 1972 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212776.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212776 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 11 cm · Depth range: 10–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Primarily found in seaward reef slopes, but occasionally on lagoon reefs and reef tops (Ref. 9710). 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).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 11838) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-chagosensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

24 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion chagosensis are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 8 distinct locations from a sample of 24 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: British Indian Ocean Territory (22); Mexico (1); Malaysia (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Chagos.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212054) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212054&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212776 (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 chagosensis Allen, 1972 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 188507) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188507/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212054) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212054/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. Within species, there may be color variations, 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, there is a strict dominance hierarchy. 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 that they develop into males first, and when they mature, they become females.

Description

Adults are light brown with two white bars with dark edging encircling the body. All fins are dusky brown. They have 10-11 dorsal spines, 2 anal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays and 13-14 anal soft rays. They reach a maximum length of 10 cm.

None known.

Similar species

The Chagos anemonefish is mainly distinguished by location, with similar species mostly having a geographic separation, with A. akindynos being found on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea and A. allardi in East Africa. A. bicinctus is found in the Red Sea but has an overlapping distribution at Chagos. A. chagosensis has a narrower headbar and a whiteish caudal fin. Specimens can also be distinguished by differences in predorsal scalation.

A. chagosensis is found only in the Chagos Archipelago.

Little is known about the specific host anemone species with which A.

Stichodactyla mertensii Mertens' carpet sea anemone

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