Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 150, June 2017, pp. 1-29. | Page 13
13
and orange. They are marked with white bars that often appear as saddles across
their backs. The namesake for this group is the Saddleback Clownfish Amphiprion
polymnus, and the third member is the Wide Band Clownfish Amphiprion
latezonatus, also known as the Lord Howe Anemonefish (Animal World).
In the wild, the Sebae Clownfish inhabit waters that are coastal, as well as
lagoons. They are found at depths between 7 to 114 feet (2 to 35 m). The foods
they ingest in the wild are detritus, benthic plants, weeds and zooplankton. They
are found with the Saddle Anemone Stichtodactyla haddoni host, and in small
groups with adults and juveniles on the same anemone.
Scientific Name: Amphiprion sebae Bleeker, 1853
Social Grouping: Varies - They are found singly, or as a male/female pair with
or without 1 or more juveniles.
IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed (Animal World).
Description
The Sebae Clownfish are elongated, slender
Saddleback Complex, in contrast to the deeper
Clarkii Complex. This species is the largest in its
cm) in length. They can have a lifespan of up to
longer (Animal World).
bodied clownfish from the
bodied shape of those in the
complex, reaching 5.5 inch (14
at least 12 years, and possible
Sebae Anemonefish typically have a black to dark brown body with two broad
white bars, and a yellow-orange coloring on the face, bottom fins, and tail fin.
They typically never have white outlining the tail fin or have any white at the
base of the tail fin. There is also a melanistic form that is all black except for the
white bars, the yellow tail, and a gray nose. The base of their tail fin and the
entire tail fin is always yellow-orange, except with “designer” colorings in
captive bred specimens. In various natural color phases, the following can occur:
The dark brown coloring extends from the top of the fish to at least 2/3rd to
3/4ths downward and they have a yellow-orange belly and nose. Only the
dorsal fins are dark brown with the second dorsal fin having white at the
top edge. The other fins are yellow-orange.
The black color phase comes from Bali and only has an orange in the tail fin,
and a light gray nose.
The mostly dark brown color phase is the same as the black except the pelvic
fins, nose and tail fin are yellow-orange (Animal World).
This fish is sometimes mistaken for the Clarkii Clownfish Amphiprion clarkii as
they have a similar color pattern, though the Clark's anemonefish has a deeper
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 150 – June 2017