Clownfish

clownfish

Clownfish exist in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. These colorful fish reside in sea anemones. Clownfish feed on the scraps of food from sea anemones that have gone undigested. The fecal matter of clownfish serves as nutrients for the sea anemone. This type of relationship, where both the clownfish and sea anemone benefit from each other, is called a “symbiotic” relationship.

Scientific Name: Amphiprioninae

Did you know?

Clownfish have a strict social hierarchy with the largest and most aggressive female fish at the top. When she dies, the largest and most dominant male clownfish changes into a female and takes her spot. This sex change is called sequential hermaphroditism.