AMPHIPRION EPHIPPIUM (BLOCH, 1790)

Red Saddleback Anemonefish

Original description: As Lutjanus ephippium, from specimens collected at Tranquebar (about 250 km south of Madras, India; probably an erroneous locality as it is outside the known range)

Colour features and size: Body and fins reddish-orange, lacking white bars (except small juveniles); black spot or saddle on sides usually varies in size with size of individual, being small in subadults and covering much of the posterior body in mature fish. Maximum length about 120 mm.

Similar species: Amphiprion frenatus (South China Sea to Japan),A. melanopus (western Pacific), and A. rubrocinctus (northwestern Australia) are somewhat similar, but all possess a single white head bar as adults (juveniles may have 2-3 bars); in addition, scales on top of the head in these species do not extend as far forward (to about the middle part of the eyes) as in A. ephippium (to a level even with the front of the eyes).

Host anemone species: Entacmaea quadricolor; Heteractis crispa.

Distribution: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java.