By David Lamb
Geographic Range
Amphiprion perideraion are distributed throughout tropical regions in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Their range includes the Gulf of Thailand, Cocos Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. In the Indo-Australian Archipelago in the Pacific, they are found from Samoa and Tongo, north to the Ryukyu Islands, Fiji, and Micronesia, extending southward to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. (Allen, 1975; Fautin and Allen, 1992; Randall et al., 2003)
Biogeographic Regions:
oriental 
(native ); indian ocean (native ); pacific ocean (native ).
Habitat
(3.28 to 124.64 ft)
These fish are found in lagoons and seaward reefs (Fautin and Allen, 1992; Myers, 1991). They are non-migratory fish living in brackish marine water with depths ranging up to 38 meters and temperatures around 25°C. These fish live in symbiotic relationships with various sea anenomes including Heteractis crispa, Hetaractis magnifica, Macrodactyla doreensis and Stichodactyla gigantea. Amphiprion perideraion often occurs in the same environment with the closely related Amphiprion akallopison, often in the same anemone (Kuiter and Tonozuka, 2001). (Allen, 1975; Fautin and Allen, 1992; Kuiter and Tonozuka, 2001; Myers, 1991)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical ; saltwater or marine .
Physical Description
(3.94 in; avg. 1.99 in)
Amphiprion perideraion are typically pink to pinkish orange in color. Fins are pale to transparent. They have a very distinct white dorsal stripe extending from the head to the caudal tail. A second, vertical, stripe is observed between the head and the rest of the body. Amphiprion perideraion have 9 or 10 well-developed dorsal spines and 2 anal spines. They have 16 or 17 dorsal soft rays and 12 or 13 anal soft rays. Likewise, they have highly developed pharyngeal teeth and a premaxilla with an ascending process, resulting in very effective suction feeding.
They reach a maximum length of 10 cm (Lieske and Myers, 1994; Fautin and Allen, 1992).
Similar species include A. nigripes, A. leucokranos, A. akallopisos and A. sandaracinos. Amphiprion nigripes can be distinguished by a black belly, pelvic area and anal fins and a more reddish color. Amphiprion leucokranos have much wider and broader stripes which don't extend the full lenth of the body. The remaining two species lack the white head bar present in A. perideraion.
Females are slightly longer than males at 5.5 cm (compared to 4.6 cm) at maturity. (Allen, 1975; Boyer, 2005; Fautin and Allen, 1992; Lieske and Myers, 1994)
Some key physical features:
ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: female larger.
Development
Once the eggs of A. perideraion hatch, they take on a planktonic form where they are carried from the natal host anemone and float in the water column.
At the end of their larval period, A. perideraion enter a juvenile stage where they metamorphose. Metamorphosis involves the development of the white bands as well as a general migration to different depths of water and host anemones. Evidence suggests that juveniles progressively forage in a smaller area as they become adults.
Members of the genus Amphiprion occupy a single anemone for their entire life, rarely swimming more than several meters from their host. These groups consist of one female, but many include several males. The female is the largest member of the colony and the dominant male is the next largest. The others, while male, are functionally sterile unless one of the two dominant fishes die. (Allen, 1991; Arvedlund, McCormick, and Ainsworth, 2000; Balon, 1990; Boyer, 2005; Coughlin, Strickler, and Sanderson, 1992)
Special features of growth:
metamorphosis ; indeterminate growth .
Reproduction
Amphiprion perideraion will breed several times a year with no obvious peak season.
They breed between April and August.
Amphiprion perideraion are monogamous fish where only two of the representatives of a group are actually involved in the mating. The female and dominant male are strictly monogamous. When the female dies, the largest male undergoes a sex change and becomes the mating female. After this, the second largest male actively becomes involved in mating.
In spawning, male A. ocellaris chase females, passing over the nest. With each pass, the female lays a line of eggs which adhere to the rock surface. The male then fertilizes the eggs and protects them from predators. (Allen, 1975; Balon, 1990; Thresher, 1984)
Mating systems:
monogamous .
Amphiprion perideraion spawn several times between April and August, but sometimes as early as February, depending on the conditions. In this species, the largest fish is always the female and the second largest fish is always the male. Fish are male first until the female dies (protandrous). During a year, the pair may produce between 2000 and 4000 eggs. Both males and females reach maturity between 1.75 and 1.83 years of age.
While little research has actually been done on the reproductive mechanisms of A. perideraion, a similar species Ampiprion ocellaris showed several interesting reproductive mechanisms. Females control males through agression and chase away other females. Dominant males build a nest on a bare rock face near an anemone. Courtship behavior in A. ocellaris includes the extension of spines, biting, and chasing. (Allen, 1991; Balon, 1990; Boyer, 2005; Thresher, 1984)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sequential hermaphrodite (protandrous ); sexual ; fertilization (external ); oviparous .
Male Amphiprion perideraion protect the developing eggs while they are attached to the substrate just outside of the host anemone, for about 6 to 8 days. When the eggs hatch, the larvae leave the host anemone. (Boyer, Bearzi, and Ricciardi, 2004)
Parental investment:
pre-fertilization (provisioning); pre-hatching/birth (protecting: male).
Lifespan/Longevity
Currently, there is very little available data regarding the lifespan of Amphiprion. Some data suggests that the lifespan is around ten years. Amphiprion percula have a record of 18 years in captivity. (Fautin and Allen, 1992)
Behavior
Amphiprion perideraion live in small social groups made up of a dominant female and male, and accessory, non-reproductive males. They are sedentary as adults, remaining within several meters of their host anemone. Juvenile fish rub against their host anemone in order to develop immunity to the anemone toxin. After an immunity is built up, A. perideraion live in the anemone as a source of protection from predators. Anemone fish are active during the day. (Boyer, 2005; Coughlin, Strickler, and Sanderson, 1992; Fautin and Allen, 1992)
Key behaviors:
natatorial ; diurnal ; motile ; sedentary ; territorial ; social ; dominance hierarchies .
Communication and Perception
Communication among Amphiprion perideraion is not well-understood. They perceive their environment through visual, chemical, and tactile cues and are likely to use these modes of perception in communication.
Food Habits
A. perideraion use suction feeding. The maxilla pushes the premaxilla forward, which causes an area of low pressure inside the mouth, resulting in suction.
Amphiprion perideraion exploit a wide range of phytoplankton (blue-green algae and diatoms), zooplankton and zoobenthos. This makes them omnivorous generalists. Amphiprion perideraion collect food from surrounding areas near their host anemones. They have also been known to consume food leftover from their host.
Studies have shown that Amphiprion melanopus experience a rapid growth during their juvenile stage. This rate is affected by contact with sunlight, likely due to a higher abundance of plankton. It's likely that there's selective pressure for larger fish, as smaller ones do not have the chance to mate. (Arvedlund, McCormick, and Ainsworth, 2000; Boyer, 2005; Fautin and Allen, 1992)
Primary Diet:
omnivore ; planktivore .
Animal Foods:
aquatic or marine worms; aquatic crustaceans; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton .
Plant Foods:
algae; phytoplankton .
Predation
- groupers (Serranidae)
Amphiprion perideraion are preyed on by large, predatory fish, notably groupers (Serranidae). The primary defense used by these fish is their ability to survive within sea anemones. The toxic stings of anemones protects resident fish from predators. (Allen, 1991; Boyer, 2005; Boyer, Bearzi, and Ricciardi, 2004; Fautin and Allen, 1992)
Ecosystem Roles
Amphiprion perideraion live with their host anemone in a symbiotic relationship. These fish are coated with a mucus which helps to protect them from the sting of the anemone. The toxic stings of anemones protect anemone fish from predators and anemones obtain food particles in the water column as a result of anemone feeding. (Boyer, Bearzi, and Ricciardi, 2004; Fautin and Allen, 1992)
- Heteractis crispa
- Heteractis magnifica
- Macrodactyla doreensis
- Stichodactyla gigantea
- Heteractis crispa
- Heteractis magnifica
- Macrodactyla doreensis
- Stichodactyla gigantea
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of Amphiprion perideraion on humans. They are considered harmless. (Allen, 1991)
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Amphiprion perideraion is a common aquarium fish and is thus of economic value to humans. They are quite appealing to divers, and their presence may encourage ecotourism. (Myers, 1991)
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
pet trade ; ecotourism .
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Not Evaluated.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
This species is not listed as endangered or threatened and there are no immediately forseeable plans to place it on the IUCN Red List. (Allen, 1991; Myers, 1991)
For More Information
Find Amphiprion perideraion information at
Contributors
Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
David Lamb (author), University of Michigan. Kevin Wehrly (editor, instructor), University of Michigan.
