Common Name: Indonesian Maroon Clownfish
Scientific Name: Amphiprion biaculeatus (Bloch, 1790)
Distribution: Indonesia, from Sunda Strait to West Papua and north to Southern Mindanao, Philippines.
Type Locality: “East Indies”
Identification: Stripes white in males, anterior stripe becoming yellow in some (but not all) females; thin, except for dorsal portion of anterior stripe; stripes often atrophied in large females.
Similar: The Melanesian Maroon Clownfish (Amphiprion gibbosus) also has thin, white stripes (never yellow); the anterior stripe often narrows dorsally in that species (though not always); the two are best separated based on location. Other Maroon Clownfishes have yellow in all stripes, at least in females.
Notes: Described by Dutch naturalist Bloch in 1790 from the “East Indies”, likely from somewhere in the Moluccas. The population from West Papua may be distinct, at least genetically, as it is in A. percula. Large females develop yellow primarily in the anterior stripe, but not all individuals show this and it’s possible there is some geographic correlation, as those from Northern Sulawesi seem particularly prone to this.
Taxonomy Note: Traditionally treated as belonging to a distinct genus, Premnas, but classified here as Amphiprion based on its close relationship with A. ocellaris and A. percula in numerous genetic phylogenies.
Sulawesi. Credit: Jim Anderson
Sipidan. Credit: KS Sim
Wakatobi. Credit: Karen Honeycutt
Bali. Credit: TigersharkG7
Lembeh. Credit: Rosie Holbech
Raja Ampat. Credit: Judith Foester
Raja Ampat. Credit: Judith Foester
Nusa Tenggara. Credit: Rita Heine
Pahawang. Credit: Asmo Riyanto
Bunaken. Credit: Barnard Dupont
Wakatobi. Credit: Ular Tikk
Wakatobi. Credit: Harry’s Dive Shop
Lembeh. Credit: Silke Baron
Lembeh. Credit: Silke Baron
Manado. Credit: Ular Tikk
Wakatobi. Credit: Muljadi Kartarahardja
Bunaken. Credit: Daniel Vaulot
Lembeh. Credit: Silke Baron
Bunaken. Credit: Pauline Brian
Lembeh. Credit: unknown
Davao, Philippines. Credit: Blogie Robillo
Bali. Credit: Gero Dill
Nusa Tenggara. Credit: Mark Rosenstein
Raja Ampat. Credit: Katherine Wells
Manado. Credit: Brian Mayes
Bunaken. Credit: Mauro Mainardi
Sipadan. Credit: Ville Vaajakallio
Bunaken. Credit: Rebecca Tse
Raja Ampat. Credit: Indah Susanti
Lembeh. Credit: Jeffrey Low
Bunaken. Credit: Vince Matulewich
Karimunjawa, Java Sea. Credit: Ramadian Bachtiar
Ambon. Credit: Dennis Polack
Bunaken. Credit: Paul Flandinette
Wakatobi. Credit: Andrea Ong Pietkiewicz
Manado. Credit: Brian Mayes
Aberrant spines. Bunaken. Credit: Vince Matulewich
Bunaken. Credit: Francesco R.
Sipadan. Credit: Gillybooze
Kangean Islands, Java Sea. Credit: toekangjalan
Raja Ampat. Credit: Indah Susanti
Kalimatan. Credit: Cisca
Juvenile. Lembeh. Credit: Benjamin Naden
Lembeh. Credit: Benjamin Naden
Talikud Island, Davoa, Philippines. Credit: Blogie Robillo
Raja Ampat. Credit: ATJ
Pulau Balak. Credit: Indra Agust
Krakatoa. Credit: Daniel Stoker
Raja Ampat. Credit: JenFu Cheng
Bali. Credit: Hanadaii
Manado. Credit: Hiroko Kodato
Sipadan. Credit: kiss2sea
Davao, Philippines. Credit: Marivi Laurel
Nusa Tenggara. Credit: Gina Sanfilippo
Amphiprionology 