Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 150, June 2017, pp. 1-29. | Page 5

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The Divers: Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf (right), his wife Ola Mostafa Khalaf
(centre) and daughter Nora Norman Ali Khalaf (left) in the Sea of Dibba-Fujairah, United
Arab Emirates. 21.08.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/21164117561/

Description
The Oman Anemonefish is a deep bodied clownfish from the Clarkii Complex,
but with a very distinct look. These fish typically have a stout, rounded body and
a forked tail, which helps them to swim faster than other anemonefish that have
rounded tails. But its distinctive tail fin has a strongly forked, lyre shape with
filaments streaming from the ends of the tailfin's lobes. Females can grow to 6.1
inch (15.5 cm), and males are much smaller. Similar to others in the Clarkii
complex, the Oman Anemonefish will probably live about 15 years in captivity
(Animal World).
Adults have an orange to orangish brown, or reddish brown body with a head
that is paler, almost tan. There are two vertical white bars on its sides, one
located just behind the eye and the other mid-body. These bars are very narrow,
which is quite distinct from other clownfish. On adults the bar at the head area
usually does not reach across the nape, nor does it extend all the way down to
the very bottom of the chin, as seen in other clownfish. The second stripe is
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 150 – June 2017