Common Name: Caledonian Anemonefish
Scientific Name: Amphiprion cf clarkii
Distribution: New Caledonia, Vanuatu
Type Locality: n/a
Identification: Caudal fin bright yellow in both sexes, obscuring most or all of the posterior stripe. Dorsal fin rays bright yellow, lighter than dorsal fin spines. Amelanistic morph often with limited black on side, the base coloration being bright orange. Melanistic morph with dorsal fin rays yellow, sometimes only along tips, and with anal fin usually retaining some or all of the base coloration. Medial stripe typically wide.
Similar: A. papuensis is nearly identical but appears to differ in that the melanistic form entirely lacks yellow in the anal fin. Amelanistic individuals are likely impossible to reliably differentiate without knowing the origin. The local A. cf chrysopterus is often confused, but it has a white caudal fin and far thinner stripes. Aquarium specimens are occasionally exported from both Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Vanuatu. Credit: Roland Bircher
Vanuatu. Credit: Hawker College Scuba
Vanuatu. Credit: Christine Charles
Poindimie, New Caledonia. Credit: Montiserge
New Caledonia. Credit: Ochi Ryuki
Poindimie, New Caledonia. Credit: Montiserge
Vanuatu. Credit: Christine Charles
New Caledonia. Credit: Toho Travel
Vanuatu. Credit: Hawker College Scuba
New Caledonia. Credit: unknown
New Caledonia. Credit: Morgan Petit
New Caledonia. Credit: Sato Tomohiko
Vanuatu. Credit: Beau / exploringtheoceans
Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. Credit: Batnoum
Ouvea, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Credit: Joris
Hienghene, New Caledonia. Credit: bdbenj
Noumea, New Caledonia. Credit: loveinlove
Noumea, New Caledonia. Credit: Montiserge
Ouvea, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Credit: Sylvain Michel
Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. Credit: S & A
Efate, Vanuatu. Credit: Shayne Seddon
Vanuatu. Credit: diveplanit.com
Bourail, New Caledonia. Credit: Irene Hanocque
Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Credit: Montiserge
Ouvea, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Credit: Joris
Hienghene, New Caledonia. Credit: bdbenj
Efate, Vanuatu. Credit: Alexandre Blanchard
Ouvea, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Credit: Joris
Amphiprionology 