Barrier Reef Anemonefish - Distribution and Habitat

Distribution and Habitat

The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is found in lagoons and outer reefs to depths of 25 m in the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, northern New South Wales, New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and Tonga. They prefer water temperatures between 10 and 32°C. They are usually found near to or within the tentacles of their host anemones: the Bubble-tip anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor; the Sebae anemone, Heteractis crispa; the Magnificent Anemone, Heteractis magnifica; the White Beaded Anemone, Heteractis aurora; the Green Carpet Anemone, Stichodactyla haddoni; and Merten's Sea Anemone, Stichodactyla mertensii. They are unaffected by the stinging tentacles due to a substance in the mucous covering their bodies which prevents the nematocysts (stinging cells) from firing.