Spine-cheek Anemonefish (species: Premnas biaculeatus) in Australian Fishes (Gaia Guide)
Australian Fishes > Actinopterygii > Neopterygii > Teleostei > Acanthopterygii > Perciformes > Labroidei > Pomacentridae > Premnas > Premnas biaculeatus (gallery)
Premnas biaculeatus
Spine-cheek Anemonefish


©Anne: A male Premnas biaculeatus about 50 mm long with anemone Entacmaea quadricolor at Lizard Island

©Jan Messersmith: Spine-cheek Anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus)

©Andy: Spine-cheek anemonefish at Lizard Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Pomacentridae
Genus Premnas
Species Premnas biaculeatus
Status least concern

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Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A bright red to to dark brownish red fish with three narrow white or grey bars and all fins the same colour as the body. Males are much smaller than females and more brilliantly coloured - bright red with bright white bars. Females are darker and the bars may be indistinct as they are usually grey. The cheek has a pair of long spines but these are not easy to see in the field.

Size

  • Up to 17 cm (Length of specimen)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Interesting facts

  • This anemonefish is highly specialised and has only one host, Entacmaea quadricolor, the Bubble-tip anemone. She is also the most dominant of the Anemonefish and will chase off any other species from the Anemone she desires.

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

It can be found in marine environments.

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: Fairly common in the Lizard Island area

Behaviour

Lives exclusively with the anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Web resources

References

  • Arvedlund, M., I. Bundgaard and L.E. Nielsen (2000). Host imprinting in anemonefishes (Pisces: Pomacentridae): does it dictate spawning site preferences? Environmental Biology of Fishes, 58: 203-213. LIRS catalog number 600.
  • Buechler, K. (2005). An evaluation of geographic variation in the life history and behaviour of anemonefishes: a common-garden approach, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 972.
  • Cooper, W.J., L.L. Smith and M.W. Westneat (2009). Exploring the radiation of a diverse reef fish family: Phylogenetics of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae), with new classifications based on molecular analyses of all genera, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 52: 1-16. LIRS catalog number 1221.
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