Anthiinae
Encyclopedia
Perhaps the quintessential "reef fish
," anthias make up a sizeable portion of the population of pink, orange and yellow fish
es seen swarming in most coral reef
photography and film. The anthias are members of the family Serranidae
(basses
, basslet
s, grouper
s) and make up the subfamily Anthiinae.
Anthias are mostly small, peaceful, and beautiful; and are thus quite popular within the ornamental fish trade. They form complex social structures based on the number of males and females and also their position on the reef itself, and are mainly zooplankton
feeders. They occur in all tropical ocean
s and sea
s of the world. The first species recognized in this group was described in the Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic and was given name Anthias anthias by Carolus Linnaeus
in 1758.
Anthias can shoal
by the thousands. Anthias do school in these large groups, though they tend toward more intimate subdivisions within the school, appropriately called "harems". These consist of one dominant, colorful male, anywhere from 2-12 females — who have their own hierarchy among them — and up to 2 'subdominant' males, often less brightly colored and non-territorial. Within the swarm of females, territorial males perform acrobatic U-swim displays and vigorously defend an area of the reef and its associated harem.
Anthias are protogynous hermaphrodite
s. All anthias are born female; if a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often change into a male to take its place. This may lead to squabbling between the next largest male, who sees an opportunity to advance, and the largest female, whose hormones are surging with testosterone. This can turn quite vicious in the limited confines of captivity.
Seven genera of anthias are known to occur in coral reef ecosystems: Holanthias, Luzonichthys
, Nemanthias, Plectranthias
, Pseudanthias
, Rabaulichthys and Serranocirrhitus
. Members of all these genera make it into the aquarium
trade, although Pseudanthias is by far the most encountered in the hobby.
Reef fish
Coral reef fish are fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs. Coral reefs form complex ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity. Among the myriad inhabitants, the fish stand out as particularly colourful and interesting to watch. Hundreds of species can exist in a small area of a...
," anthias make up a sizeable portion of the population of pink, orange and yellow fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es seen swarming in most coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
photography and film. The anthias are members of the family Serranidae
Serranidae
Serranidae is a large family of fishes, belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species of serranids in 64 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers...
(basses
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, basslet
Basslet
The basslets are a small family, Grammatidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes. The twelve members are all small fish of the western Atlantic, typically no more than 10 cm in length. Several species are colorful and popular for marine aquaria...
s, grouper
Grouper
Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.Not all serranids are called groupers; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus...
s) and make up the subfamily Anthiinae.
Anthias are mostly small, peaceful, and beautiful; and are thus quite popular within the ornamental fish trade. They form complex social structures based on the number of males and females and also their position on the reef itself, and are mainly zooplankton
Zooplankton
Zooplankton are heterotrophic plankton. Plankton are organisms drifting in oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh water. The word "zooplankton" is derived from the Greek zoon , meaning "animal", and , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter"...
feeders. They occur in all tropical ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
s and sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
s of the world. The first species recognized in this group was described in the Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic and was given name Anthias anthias by Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
in 1758.
Anthias can shoal
Shoaling and schooling
In biology, any group of fish that stay together for social reasons are said to be shoaling , and if, in addition, the group is swimming in the same direction in a coordinated manner, they are said to be schooling . In common usage, the terms are sometimes used rather loosely...
by the thousands. Anthias do school in these large groups, though they tend toward more intimate subdivisions within the school, appropriately called "harems". These consist of one dominant, colorful male, anywhere from 2-12 females — who have their own hierarchy among them — and up to 2 'subdominant' males, often less brightly colored and non-territorial. Within the swarm of females, territorial males perform acrobatic U-swim displays and vigorously defend an area of the reef and its associated harem.
Anthias are protogynous hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
s. All anthias are born female; if a dominant male perishes, the largest female of the group will often change into a male to take its place. This may lead to squabbling between the next largest male, who sees an opportunity to advance, and the largest female, whose hormones are surging with testosterone. This can turn quite vicious in the limited confines of captivity.
Seven genera of anthias are known to occur in coral reef ecosystems: Holanthias, Luzonichthys
Luzonichthys
Luzonichthys are of the family Anthiinae and contain six species: Luzonichthys earlei, Luzonichthys microlepis, Luzonichthys taeniatus, Luzonichthys waitei, Luzonichthys whitleyi, Luzonichthys williamsi.- External links :...
, Nemanthias, Plectranthias
Plectranthias
Plectranthias is a genus of serranid fishes, mostly rather small with large mouths and eyes close together. There are currently 44 described species.-Species:*Plectranthias alleni*Plectranthias altipinnatus*Plectranthias anthioides...
, Pseudanthias
Pseudanthias
Pseudanthias is a genus of colourful reef fishes of the subfamily Anthiinae . Fishbase describes 61 species belonging to this genus:* Pseudanthias albofasciatus, ,...
, Rabaulichthys and Serranocirrhitus
Serranocirrhitus
Serranocirrhitus is a genus of the most colourful reef fishes of the subfamily Anthiinae . Seven genera of anthias are known to occur in coral reef ecosystems.- External links :*http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16&aid=1713...
. Members of all these genera make it into the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade, although Pseudanthias is by far the most encountered in the hobby.
Species
- Genus Anatolanthias
- Genus AnthiasAnthias (genus)Anthias is a genus of colourful reef fishes in the subfamily Anthiinae .-Species:Species within this genus include:* Anthias altus Smith, 1961* Anthias anthias * Anthias asperilinguis Günther, 1859...
- Genus CaesiopercaCaesiopercaCaesioperca is a genus of sea bass of the sub-family Anthiinae in the family Serranidae.-Species:*Caesioperca lepidoptera *Caesioperca rasor...
- Butterfly perchButterfly perchThe butterfly perch, Caesioperca lepidoptera, a sea bass of the subfamily Anthiinae of the family Serranidae, is found in the eastern Indian Ocean, and southwest Pacific Ocean including southern Australia and New Zealand...
, Caesioperca lepidoptera (Forster, 1801)
- Butterfly perch
- Genus Caprodon
- Pink maomaoPink maomaoThe pink maomao, Caprodon longimanus, is a sea bass of the subfamily Anthiinae of the family Serranidae, found in the eastern Indian Ocean, and southern Pacific Ocean including Australia and New Zealand, at depths of up to 220 m...
, Caprodon longimanus (Günther, 1859)
- Pink maomao
- Genus Dactylanthias
- Genus Giganthias
- Genus Hemanthias
- Genus Holanthias
- Genus Hypoplectrodes
- Genus Lepidoperca
- Genus LuzonichthysLuzonichthysLuzonichthys are of the family Anthiinae and contain six species: Luzonichthys earlei, Luzonichthys microlepis, Luzonichthys taeniatus, Luzonichthys waitei, Luzonichthys whitleyi, Luzonichthys williamsi.- External links :...
- Genus Meganthias
- Genus Nemanthias
- Genus OdontanthiasOdontanthiasOdontanthias is a genus of colourful reef fishes in the subfamily Anthiinae.-Species:Species within this genus include:* Odontanthias borbonius * Odontanthias caudicinctus...
- Genus Othos
- Genus PlectranthiasPlectranthiasPlectranthias is a genus of serranid fishes, mostly rather small with large mouths and eyes close together. There are currently 44 described species.-Species:*Plectranthias alleni*Plectranthias altipinnatus*Plectranthias anthioides...
- Genus Pronotogrammus
- Genus PseudanthiasPseudanthiasPseudanthias is a genus of colourful reef fishes of the subfamily Anthiinae . Fishbase describes 61 species belonging to this genus:* Pseudanthias albofasciatus, ,...
- Sea goldieSea goldieAlso known as the lyretail coralfish, the lyretail anthias or the scalefin anthia, but may be simply known as the goldfish. The sea goldie is a common sight to scuba divers in the Indian Ocean, and is a typical representative of the subfamily of Anthiinae.-Range:The sea goldie is found in the...
, Pseudanthias squamipinnis
- Sea goldie
- Genus Rabaulichthys
- Genus Sacura
- Genus Selenanthias
- Genus SerranocirrhitusSerranocirrhitusSerranocirrhitus is a genus of the most colourful reef fishes of the subfamily Anthiinae . Seven genera of anthias are known to occur in coral reef ecosystems.- External links :*http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16&aid=1713...
- Genus Tosana
- Genus Tosanoides
- Genus Trachypoma
- Toadstool groperToadstool groperThe toadstool groper, Trachypoma macracanthus, a sea bass of the subfamily Anthiinae of the family Serranidae, is found in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its length is between 20 and 40 cm.-References:...
, Trachypoma macracanthus Günther, 1859
- Toadstool groper