AMPHIPRION PERIDERAION BLEEKER, 1855

Pink Anemonefish

Original description: As Amphiprion perideraion, from specimens collected at Groot Oby (Obi Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia)

Colour features and size: Pink to pinkish orange; fins pale; narrow white head bar and white stripe on top of head beginning between the eyes and extending along base of dorsal fin; adult males have narrow orange margin on soft dorsal fin and upper and lower edges of tail. Maximum length about 10 cm.

Similar species: Amphiprion nigripes (Maldives and Sri Lanka) is more reddish and has a black belly and black pelvic and anal fins; A. leucokranos (Melanesia) has a wider head bar and the much broader white stripe (usually teardrop shape) on top of the head does not extend the full length of the dorsal fin base; A. akallopisos (Indian Ocean) and A. sandaracinos (eastern Indian - western Pacific Oceans) lack the white head bar.

Host anemone species: Heteractis crispa; usually H. magnifica; Macrodactyla doreensis; Stichodactyla gigantea.

Distribution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, Indo-Australian Archipelago northwards to the Ryukyu Islands, Fiji and Micronesia.