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Whitesnout Anemonefish (Amphiprion mccullochi)

McCulloch's Anemonefish is a marine reef fish endemic to Australia, occurring at Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef. It depends on bubbletip anemones in lagoon and inshore waters, so this host-anemone habitat is important wherever works are planned.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

Breeding is reported year-round in suitable habitats.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding season: Breeding is reported year-round in suitable habitats.

Identification: Appearance

Adults are dark brown to black with a whitish snout and a white cheek bar that usually does not join across the top of the head. The caudal peduncle and caudal fin are white, and the fish grows to about 12 cm.

Adults are dark brown to black with a whitish snout and a white cheek bar that usually does not join across the top of the head. The caudal peduncle and caudal fin are white, and the fish grows to about 12 cm.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

It occurs in lagoon and inshore waters of Lord Howe Island, and at Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef. Extensive surveys have found that it no longer occurs at Norfolk Island.

It occurs in lagoon and inshore waters of Lord Howe Island, and at Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef. Extensive surveys have found that it no longer occurs at Norfolk Island.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Adults inhabit lagoons and rocky reefs, from about 2 to 45 m depth. The species is strongly associated with the bubbletip anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor.

Adults inhabit lagoons and rocky reefs, from about 2 to 45 m depth. The species is strongly associated with the bubbletip anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Its diet includes planktonic crustaceans, such as copepods, mysis and shrimp larvae, as well as algae.

Its diet includes planktonic crustaceans, such as copepods, mysis and shrimp larvae, as well as algae.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It lays eggs on the substrate beside its host anemone. Males guard and aerate the eggs.

It lays eggs on the substrate beside its host anemone. Males guard and aerate the eggs.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It lives in association with its host anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor, and cannot survive without a host anemone.

It lives in association with its host anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor, and cannot survive without a host anemone.

Threats: Threats

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Works risk

Works that damage or remove bubbletip anemones could affect the fish, as it depends on this host and its distribution and abundance are linked to the host anemone.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened fish, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

Adults inhabit lagoons and rocky reefs, from about 2 to 45 m depth.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources