Some anemones in Fiji

[BonsaiNut]

Did you see Amphiprion pacificus.........???

If I had, I would guarantee you I would have misidentified it as A. sandaracinos. All the skunk clowns I saw had the side head bars of A. perideraion - but the orange coloration of "Fiji Skunk Clowns" (see my photo of them in the magnifica anemone). My understanding is that all A. perideraion in Fiji are orange(?)

As others have pointed out - the "melanopus" clowns that I saw in Fiji were granted their own species status in 2008. They are now known as "A. barberi".

 

[Yuri Barros]

Yes you are right.........they are Amphiprion barberi..........awesome fishes..........

Also I think that the Anemones IDs in this thread are correct........

Even M. doreensis in the rocks...........its possible due the fact that this anemones can swim away..............to find a proper place to settle in the sand.........maybe this one is temporary in the rocks.............

I saw videos of LTA inflate and swim..........like floating..............

Most of pictures I collect in the NET of Amphiprion pacificus is from Matangi Island.............

I hope that you can take great pics of this species in the next trip..........its gonna be cool...........

 

[Yuri Barros]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing.
I really hate to be picky, but I think that the anemones that you IDed as H. malu and M. doreensis are both H. crispa based on habitat and a couple other things. In addition the Fautin/Allen book (which isn't always right about these things) doesn't show either anemone occurring in Fiji.

Thanks again for the great pictures. I hope you have more.

I was thinking.........and I realize that you are right..........

At first sight.........I´m thinking that the IDs are right...........

But I never reject your statements............due your healthy knowledge.........

........and rethinking...........maybe you are really right.............

 

[JDM_SOHC]

H. magnifica

what kind of clownfish are those?

 

[Yuri Barros]

Amphiprion perideraion........

The color of these fishes are outstanding...........

 

[BonsaiNut]

what kind of clownfish are those?

We were just talking about them. A. perideraion. In Fiji they are orange. As far as I know, in the rest of the world they are a pink color.

Here's two more photos of the same species in different anemones. I didn't see them in anything other than H. magnifica.

 

[JDM_SOHC]

Amphiprion perideraion........

The color of these fishes are outstanding...........

We were just talking about them. A. perideraion. In Fiji they are orange. As far as I know, in the rest of the world they are a pink color.

Here's two more photos of the same species in different anemones. I didn't see them in anything other than H. magnifica.

those r soooo cool..!! i want..! lol

 

[Yuri Barros]

In all Amphiprion pacificus pictures..........founded in the net..........the fishes are hosted in Mags.............

A. sandracinos usually are seen in Merten´s..........

If you see something like A. sandaracinos............hosted in Mags........is the A. pacificus...............

And if possible take a bunch of pictures of them.............

 

[clorox]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Yuri Barros]

Amphiprion pacificus in Tonga...........

Look these footage

http://stock-clip.com/video/2294138...prion-pacificus)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga

http://stock-clip.com/video/2294111...sh-(amphiprion-pacificus)-underwater-in-tonga

http://stock-clip.com/video/2369618...prion-pacificus)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga

http://stock-clip.com/video/2334740...actis-magnifica)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga

 

[addictedreefer]

The place I stay at has a small biology library for snorkelers / green tourists. I am bringing them a gift:

A little off topic, but interesting that all the anemones in the photos on the book cover are severely bleached . . .

 

[SDguy]

Stunning colors on those clowns! Is the caudal peduncle white?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Amphiprion pacificus in Tonga...........



Look these footage



http://stock-clip.com/video/2294138...prion-pacificus)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga



http://stock-clip.com/video/2294111...sh-(amphiprion-pacificus)-underwater-in-tonga



http://stock-clip.com/video/2369618...prion-pacificus)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga



http://stock-clip.com/video/2334740...actis-magnifica)-swimming-underwater-in-tonga

Are these supposed to be rare? LFS has exact same clowns at $15 each.

 

[Yuri Barros]

Well noted SDguy............

Pink Skunks from Fiji.........Vanuatu.........have this Sunburst color........and a little more white color at Caudal Peduncle...............

About Amphiprion pacificus............I don´t know if it is very rare.........

Information..........and specially good pictures are rarer............

Maybe they have low density population.............scatered distribution........

Most comon to find in LFS is Amphiprion akallopisos...............

Its very hard to separate Amphiprion akallopisos and Amphiprion pacificus..............unless you know the original locality of the fishes..............

Look some Amphiprion akallopisos footage from Mayotte Islands.........Comoros........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChK-lEf7phM

This video have some nice Amphiprion latifsciatus footage.........between 6:30 and 9:00 seconds...........

Note that this locality in the Indian Ocean.........is far away from Fiji in the Pacific Ocean............

Amphiprion pacificus seems to have more yellow in the belly................

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Well noted SDguy............

Pink Skunks from Fiji.........Vanuatu.........have this Sunburst color........and a little more white color at Caudal Peduncle...............

About Amphiprion pacificus............I don´t know if it is very rare.........

Information..........and specially good pictures are rarer............

Maybe they have low density population.............scatered distribution........

Most comon to find in LFS is Amphiprion akallopisos...............

Its very hard to separate Amphiprion akallopisos and Amphiprion pacificus..............unless you know the original locality of the fishes..............

Look some Amphiprion akallopisos footage from Mayotte Islands.........Comoros........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChK-lEf7phM

This video have some nice Amphiprion latifsciatus footage.........between 6:30 and 9:00 seconds...........

Note that this locality in the Indian Ocean.........is far away from Fiji in the Pacific Ocean............

Amphiprion pacificus seems to have more yellow in the belly................

Which one is this?

 

[Yuri Barros]

Amphiprion sandaracinos...........Orange Skunk............

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Been watching tons of Fiji snorkeling videos and it seems like tomato clowns live in shallow reefs in their anemones.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Been watching tons of Fiji snorkeling videos and it seems like tomato clowns live in shallow reefs in their anemones.

All of the photos taken in this thread (by me) were taken while snorkeling.

The haddonis were in very shallow water in the sand and were almost exposed at low tide.

The BTA's formed extensive colonies and were often found at the edge of the fringe reef - never exposed at low tide but sometimes in water under 4' deep at low tide.

Magnificas, mertensii, and crispa were in deeper water. Magnificas and mertensii were out in the open on rocks, crispa was hunkered down with base in rocks, but tentacles in open water. Didn't see many C. adhesivum - unlike Tahiti where they are very common.

I have a feeling this varies by location - the calmer and more protected the water, the closer they seemed to be to the surface. In Tahiti, inside the barrier reef, the magnificas are right on the top of the coral - with tentacles on the surface of the water at low tide.

Here's a photo of a C. adhesivum. You can see part of the problem with taking pictures while snorkeling in shallow water - sometimes I had a hard time getting a pic without my shadow getting in the way: