Skunk Clownfish Identification Guide
Identify the Skunk Clownfish by its single pale dorsal stripe and lack of the vertical white bars seen on other anemonefish.
Read the full Skunk Clownfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Slender-bodied anemonefish, pale orange to pinkish-orange overall
- One narrow white to pale stripe running from just behind the head down the center of the back to the tail base
- No vertical white body bars, unlike most other anemonefish
- Yellowish to translucent pectoral fins
- Reaches roughly 8-11 cm (3-4.3 in)
Common look-alikes
- Pink Skunk Clownfish: near-identical dorsal stripe, but its stripe extends further forward onto the snout between the eyes, and its pectoral fins are pale pink rather than yellow
- Orange Skunk Clownfish: similar body shape and single stripe, but shows a deeper orange-red base color overall
- Tomato Clownfish: has a bold white head bar instead of a thin dorsal stripe, easily separating it from skunk-type clownfish
Where you'll see one
Skunk Clownfish inhabit shallow Indo-Pacific reef flats and lagoons, living in a close mutualism with sea anemones such as Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla mertensii, rarely straying more than a body length from their host anemone even when approached.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Skunk Clownfish from a Pink Skunk Clownfish?
Check the stripe's starting point and pectoral fin color — Skunk Clownfish stripe begins behind the head with yellow pectoral fins, while Pink Skunk Clownfish stripe reaches onto the snout with pale pink pectoral fins.
What is the easiest feature to rule out other clownfish species?
The complete absence of vertical white body bars — any clownfish with a head bar or mid-body bar is not a skunk-type species.