Amphiprion percula (Lacépède, 1802)

Colour features and size: Bright orange with three white bars, the middle one with forward-projecting buldge; bars often bordered with black that varies in width. The number of the dorsal spines is 10 (rarely 9) and the spinous (anterior)part of the dorsl fin is about 3.1 - 3.3 in height in the head length;

Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17;

Anal spines: 2-2;

Anal soft rays: 11-13;

Maximum lenght: 80mm;

Environment: marine ; reef-associated; non-migratory;

Depth range: 1 - 15 m;

Climate: tropical (10°S - 25°S)

Importance: aquarium: commercial;

Red List Status: Not in IUCN Red List;

Melanistic variation : Limited melanism is evident in fish that live with anemones of the genus Sthicodactyla : the margin around the white bars is deep and in some specimens, considerably expanded;

Commonly photographed and often misidentified as A. ocellaris. This variant really doesn't have noticeably thick black edging on bars, but this is A. percula. This is the most common A. percula variant in the wild. Strongly resembling A. ocellaris. Bright orange, three thick white bars with black edging. All fins orange with black edging, and some clear edging. Eye black, outer eye bump orange. Juveniles are dusky orange, but otherwise as per the adult. The main differences between this A. percula and A. ocellaris is the shorter spines on the front dorsal (thus making the fish appear more long and slender) and generally a much smaller fish than A. ocellaris. Usually more obvious if anemonefish is in host anemone;

Extremely rare as far as the juvenile pattern goes. Have not seen anything like it in the wild before. Resembles results in captivity of crossing A. ocellaris with A. percula. Possibly A.ocellaris and A.percula pairing in the wild; juveniles have a unique spot on the side;

Other Names: Clown, Clownfish, Percula, Eastern Clown

Deliberate hybrids between the two fish (A.percula, A.ocellaris) have occurred in aquariums with resulting progeny having broken or missing second bars, and occasional spots where second bar should be. Photographs taken in PNG would suggest that this type of 'spotting' is also present in the wild, though whether this is because A.ocellaris is crossing with A.percula naturally is not known;

Differences between A.ocellaris and A.percula: The most obvious is the size of the fish; A.percula is much smaller (and is usually found in small anemones) and the body is usually more torpedo-shaped than A.ocellaris. You can't always go by the amount of black on the fins and edging, as many A.percula variants do not have alot of black. The front dorsal fin of A.percula (when extended) is very short, and the front dorsal fin of A.ocellaris (fully extended) is like a sail and taller (in comparison with the size of the fish);

A. percula inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs. Commensal with the host anemone species: Heteractis magnifica ; Heteractis crispa ; Stichodactyla gigantea ;

Both A. ocellaris and A. percula are found in H.magnifica and S.gigantea, but A.ocellaris is also found in S.mertensii, and A.percula in H.crispa. This is not entirely helpful, however, as generally A.percula is most commonly found in S.gigantea, and A.ocellaris is most commonly found in H.magnifica and S.gigantea;

Percula Clowns are similar in appearance, keeping and culture to Amphiprion ocellaris, except that Perculas seem to need better water quality and grow slower, taking up to a year to reach marketable coloration. During that time, they grow into their stripes, but even at a year old, the white tail stripe may remain incomplete. They are the smallest of all the clows, reaching only 64mm and a 38 litres tank is aqequate for them; One interesting Percula quirk: the juveniles keep their top fins oriented towards the strongest light. You can confuse them by moving the overhead tank lights to the side causing them to ''stand on their heads'' to keep their top fins oriented to the light source; 

Geographic distribution:

Northern Queensland and Melanesia (New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu). Not known from New Caledonia and the Fiji Islands, although Fowler (1959) recorded it from the latter area;

Pecula Complex Species Index

Anemonefish Species Index