Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 150, June 2017, pp. 1-29. | страница 4

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Like the common Clark's Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii, this fish has a longer,
forked tail that gives it the ability to swim quicker than other types of clowns.
But this clownfish is a very distinctive because its caudal fin has a strongly
forked lyre shape with filaments streaming from the ends of the tailfin's lobes.
This fin is typically white while the pelvic and anal fins are always dark brown.
This is one of only two clownfish with such a distinctly forked caudal fin. The
other is the Madagascar Anemonefish Amphiprion latifasciatus, another very rare
species that also lives in the Western Indian Ocean. The Madagascar Clownfish is
found in the waters of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, but it has a much
broader mid-body stripe than the Oman Anemonefish (Animal World).

Distribution / Background
The Oman Anemonefish Amphiprion omanensis was described by Allen and Mee
in 1991. This is one of the newest clownfish to be scientifically described. They
have a small and limited distribution within the Western Indian Ocean, in the
area of the Arabian Sea. They are found off the Arabian Peninsula, the typical
locality is Barr Al Hikman, off the east coast of Oman, and they have also been
found just north of the Socotra (Sokotra) Island. It is thought that they have a
very short larval stage, contributing to this limited dispersal. They are not listed
on the IUCN Red List (Animal World).
These clownfish are known by the common names Oman Anemonefish or Oman
Clownfish, which have to do with their very limited habitat. There is also a rare
variation with a bright brick red coloring on the body and tail fin which is called
the Brick Red Oman. They are one of 11 clownfish in the Clarkii complex, which
are all some of the best swimmers of all clownfish complexes (Animal World).
They occur in small aggregations on inshore reefs at shallower depths between 6
- 33 feet (2 - 10 m). They have been known to associate most commonly with the
clown-hosting anemones Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis crispa, and Heteractis
magnifica, but may also possibly be hosted by the anemones Heteractis aurora and
Stichodactyla mertensii. They are usually found as adult pairs. Juveniles can be
found alone, or sharing an anemone with an adult pair. Anemonefish are
opportunistic eaters, feeding on zoo plankton, benthic algae and weeds, small
shrimp, amphipods, polychaete worms, and other small invertebrates (Animal
World).
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Scientific Name: Amphiprion omanensis Allen & Mee, 1991
Social Grouping: Varies - Typically found as adult pairs. Juveniles alone or
with adults in same anemone.
IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed (Animal World).

Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 150 – June 2017