Longevity of the Anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii at Miyake-Jima, Japan with Notes on Four Other Species

Abstract

Observations at a single study site over a period of 14 years supplied evidence of long term residence at specific locations by six individuals representing five species. A single anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) was observed over a period of 11 years and was estimated to be at least 13 years old when it disappeared. Other individuals disappeared at the following estimated ages: Centropyge tibicen (two individuals) = six years; Lactoria diaphana = eight years; Dendrochirus zebra = five years; Plectorhynchus pictus = seven years. The A. clarkii individual was estimated to have contributed about 160,000 propagules in its lifetime, while outliving three mates as a female after nearly three years as a functional male. Evidence is presented showing that sexually functional males disappear more frequently than females, suggesting an advantage for protandry in a monogamous species.