Wide-band Anemonefish (Amphiprion latezonatus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
T. Cooper / Reef Life Survey · via Wikipedia: Amphiprion latezonatus · CC BY 3.0
Amphiprion latezonatus, also known as the wide-band anemonefish, is a species of anemonefish found in subtropical waters off the east coast of Australia. Like all anemonefishes, it forms a symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones and is unaffected by the stinging tentacles of its host. It is a sequential hermaphrodite with a strict size-based dominance hierarchy; the female is largest, the breeding male is second largest, and the male nonbreeders get progressively smaller as the hierarchy descends. They exhibit protandry, meaning the breeding male changes to female if the sole breeding female dies, with the largest nonbreeder becoming the breeding male.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderBlenniiformes
- FamilyPomacentridae
- GenusAmphiprion
- SpeciesAmphiprion latezonatus
Named by Waite, 1900
Close relatives
Other species of Amphiprion with a Codexery entry.
- Allard's clownfish (Amphiprion allardi) Amphiprion allardi
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Amphiprion latezonatus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 278395 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD)
Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.14 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Amphiprion latezonatus
Where the wide-band anemonefish (amphiprion latezonatus) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (314 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 2 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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 latezonatus · Authority: Waite, 1900 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278395.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278395 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Amphiprion latezonatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 14 cm · Depth range: 10–45 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 rocky and coral reefs (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). Associated with the anemone Heteractis crispa (Ref. 5911). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420)
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 9206) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-latezonatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
314 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion latezonatus are published through GBIF from 3 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 15 distinct locations from a sample of 314 records, omitting 2 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: Australia (254); Norfolk Island (59); Malaysia (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212078) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212078&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278395 (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 latezonatus Waite, 1900 as Data Deficient (code DD). 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 188533) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188533/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212078) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212078/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
A. latezonatus grows to 14 cm and is dark brown with three white bars and a broad white margin on the caudal fin. As the common name suggests, the middle bar is very wide, about twice the average width of other anemonefishes and is shaped like a flat-topped pyramid. They have 10 dorsal spines, two anal spines, 15–16 dorsal soft rays, and 13–14 anal soft rays.
Color variations
A. latezonatus often has bright blue markings on the upper lip and the edges of the bars.
Similar species
The broad midbody bar is distinctive, and A. latezonatus is unlikely to be confused with any other anemonefish. The closest in appearance are A. polymnus (saddleback anemonefish) and A. sebae (sebae anemonefish), but A. latezonatus has a broader midband and lacks the characteristic slope of A. polymnus or A. sebae. Historically, anemonefish have been identified by morphological features and color pattern in the field, while in a laboratory, other features such as scalation of the head, tooth shape, and body proportions are used.
These features have been used to group species into complexes, and A. latezonatus was considered as part of the saddleback complex with A. polymnus and A. sebae. Genetic analysis has shown that the saddleback complex is not a monophyletic group and that A. latezonatus has a monospecific lineage, and is more closely related to A. percula and Premnas biaculeatus than to the saddleback group.
Distribution and habitat
A. latezonatus is found in subtropical waters of Australia, from southern Queensland to northern New South Wales, Norfolk Island, and Lord Howe Island.
Host anemones
The relationship between anemonefish and their host sea anemones is not random and instead is highly nested in structure. A. latezonatus is highly specialised with only one species anemone host, Heteractis crispa (sebae anemone). A. latezonatus has been found in two additional host sea anemone species.
Anemonefish and their host anemones are found on coral reefs and face similar environmental issues. Like corals, anemone's contain intracellular endosymbionts, zooxanthellae, and can suffer from bleaching due to triggers such as increased water temperature or acidification.
Characteristics known to elevate the risk of extinction are small geographic range, small local population, and extreme habitat specialisation. A. latezonatus is an endemic species, confined to the subtropical east coast of Australia. The finding of A. latezonatus being hosted by two additional sea anemone species may reduce the risk of extinction associated with specialisation.
A. latezonatus has been bred in captivity.
Source: Wikipedia: Amphiprion latezonatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiprion_latezonatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Amphiprion latezonatus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; compare WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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