Three-band anemonefish (Amphiprion tricinctus)

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 tricinctus · Authority: Schultz & Welander, 1953 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278407.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278407 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 12 cm · Depth range: 3–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 30.5 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit lagoons and outer reef slopes. Feed primarily on planktonic copepods, a variety of algae, echiuroids, and sipunculoids. Diurnal species (Ref. 113699). 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: Entacmaea quadricolor , Heteractis aurora , Heteractis crispa , and Stichodactyla mertensii (Ref. 5911). Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4655) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amphiprion-tricinctus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

250 georeferenced occurrence records for Amphiprion tricinctus are published through GBIF from 6 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 21 distinct locations from a sample of 250 records, omitting 1 inland record 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: Marshall Islands (240); Indonesia (3); Wallis and Futuna (3); Philippines (2); Australia (1); Thailand (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5212119) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5212119&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278407 (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 tricinctus Schultz & Welander, 1953 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 188620) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/188620/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5212119) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5212119/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The body of A. tricinctus is yellow-orange at the snout, belly, and pelvic and anal fins, tending to dark brown or black at the tail. As the common name suggests, as an adult it has three white bands or bars.

Color variations

As A. tricinctus is endemic to the Marshall Islands, no geographic variation is seen, bute variations to the proportions of orange and black occur, from predominately orange through to predominantly black and the occasional aberrant coloration. Fish living with the host anemone Stichodactyla mertensii, Mertens' carpet sea anemone, are frequently black except for the snout and bars.

Similar species

Two other species have three body bars and a dark tail, A. chrysogaster and A. fuscocaudatus, but the species are geographically separated.

Three other species of anemonefish are found in the Marshall Islands, A. chrysopterus, A. melanopus, and A. perideraion. These are easily distinguished from A. tricinctus as A. chrysopterus has two body bars and a whitish caudal fin, A. melanopus only has a head bar, and A. perideraion has a distinctive white stripe on the dorsal ridge. Genetic analysis has shown that A. tricinctus is closely related to A. clarkii and this clade is significantly different from the other species traditionally considered part of the A. clarkii complex.

Distribution and habitat

A. tricinctus is endemic to the Marshall Islands in the western part of the Pacific Ocean and is found in lagoons and pinnacle and seaward reefs. Whilst it is most commonly found at depths of 3 to 40 m, it is occasionally found hosted by solitary specimens of Entacmaea quadricolor on seaward reef slopes in excess of 40 m deep.

Host anemones

The relationship between anemonefish and their host sea anemones is not random and instead is highly nested in structure. A. tricinctus is highly generalised, being hosted by eight of the 9 host anemones found in the Marshall Islands. A.

Heteractis aurora beaded sea anemone (mostly juvenile)

Stichodactyla mertensii Mertens' carpet sea anemone

Many locations in the Marshall Islands have not been scientifically surveyed, and A.

Heteractis magnifica magnificent sea anemone (rarely)

Heteractis malu delicate sea anemone (rarely)

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. tricinctus is an endemic species, confined to the Marshall Islands, and this species' ability to use a variety of anemone hosts is thought to reduce the risk of extinction associated with specialisation.

Specimens of A. tricinctus are occasionally for sale and the species has been bred in captivity.

Source: Wikipedia: Three-band anemonefish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-band_anemonefish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.