Are Darwin clowns really ocellaris

[softiesplease]

I know you can keep and pair black and orange clownfish and all their morphs together but I noticed ORA says in their description

“Scientists have considered describing the Black Ocellaris as a new species, but for now they are still considered a variation of the A. ocellaris species.”

Now I have no clue when they made this description and where this stands today, not much info I could find out there on this.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I know you can keep and pair black and orange clownfish and all their morphs together but I noticed ORA says in their description

“Scientists have considered describing the Black Ocellaris as a new species, but for now they are still considered a variation of the A. ocellaris species.”

Now I have no clue when they made this description and where this stands today, not much info I could find out there on this.

So what are your thoughts?

I've not heard that the Darwin ocellaris have been split by taxonomists (yet). They readily mate with orange ocellaris, and may do so in parts of their native range, so are likely just a regional color variation.