Mauritian anemonefish (Amphiprion chrysogaster)

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 chrysogaster · Authority: Cuvier, 1830 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 212777.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphiprion chryogaster Cuvier, 1830; Amphiprion fusciventer Bennett, 1832; Amphiprion mauritiensis Schultz, 1953.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212777 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 2–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Found in lagoons and outer reefs. 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 aurora , Heteractis magnifica , Stichodactyla mertensii , Macrodactyla doreensis , Stichodactyla haddoni , and Stichodactyla mertensii (Ref. 5911). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 11839) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-chrysogaster.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

233 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion chrysogaster are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 23 distinct locations from a sample of 233 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Réunion (155); Mauritius (39); Philippines (21); Mayotte (7); Sri Lanka (4); French Southern Territories (3); Indonesia (1); Kiribati (1); Seychelles (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212114) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212114&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=212777 (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 chrysogaster Cuvier, 1830 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 188458) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188458/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212114) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212114/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 very dark brown, nearly black with three white bars. The snout and breast are orange.

The caudal fin is blackish or dark brown and the anal fin may be blackish or orange-yellow. They have 10 dorsal spines, 2 anal spines, 16-17 dorsal soft rays and 13-14 anal soft rays. They reach a maximum length of 14 cm.

Color variations

Fish that are generally blackish except for the three white bars are associated with the host anemone Stichodactyla mertensii, Mertens' carpet sea anemone.

Similar species

The Seychelles anemonefish, A. fuscocaudatus, is distinguished by location, the number of dorsal spines and the solid dark tail of A. chrysogaster compared with dark streaks on the tail of A. fuscocaudatus. A. tricinctus (Three-band anemonefish) is also distinguished by location, being found only in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific and has a narrower bar across the tail base than A.

The Mauritian anemonefish is found only in Mauritius and probably Réunion.

The Mauritian anemonefish is hosted by the following species of anemones:

Stichodactyla mertensii Mertens' carpet sea anemone

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