Flame Anthias

Pseudanthias ignitus

Flame Anthias

Pseudanthias ignitus

Other Common Names
Ignitus Anthias, Flame Basslet

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Ignitus Anthias, Flame Basslet

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The caudal fin of the flame anthias is deeply forked.

Males of this species are yellow to orange with pink to reddish heads. They have a lavender-edged orange stripe that goes from the front of their snout over to the lower part of the eye to the front of the upper edge of the pectoral fin base. Their dorsal fin is red and the rear half of the dorsal fin base is greenish yellow. Females look similar to male, but their colors are much less intense.

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs at a depth of 3 to 15m

Diet

Zooplankton

Life History

Like other members of the Pseudanthias genus, this species occurs in groups and forms a harem-type social structure. Each male leads a group of females which may include up to 10 or more individuals. If something should happen to the male flame anthias, the highest ranking female in the harem changes sex and takes charge of the harem.

Flame anthias are pelagic spawners, meaning they release eggs and sperm into the water. Then once the fertilized eggs hatch, they begin a larval stage where they disperse by ocean currents. Eventually, they settle in shallow coral reef areas, growing into juveniles and then adults.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

As prey for a variety of larger predators, this small fish helps maintain the balance of coral reef ecosystems.

Occurs around the Maldives, Similan Islands off Thailand, and Sumatra in Indonesia

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

When a female of this species changes sex to male they also change color.

Citations & Other Resources

Allen, G.R., Heemstra, P.C. & Sadovy, Y.J. 2010. Pseudanthias ignitus (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
Heemstra, P. C., and K.V. Akhilesh. 2012. A review of the anthiine fish genus Pseudanthias of the western Indian Ocean, with description of a new species and a key to the species. Aqua (Neu-Isenburg, Germany), 18(3), 121-.
Allen, G. R., and Western Australian Museum. 2009. Field guide to marine fishes of tropical Australia and South-East Asia (4th ed.). Western Australian Museum.

Flame Anthias

Flame Anthias

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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