Anemone fish or clownfish belongs to the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. All of them form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones. They prefer living in nestled among the tentacles of stinging anemones. These fishes have a special layer of mucus that keeps these anemones from stinging them. They are also known as Clown fishes.
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Pomacentridae
Amphiprion species
Table Of Content
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Pomacentridae
Amphiprion species
Table of Contents
Anemone fish live in pairs and are noted for their association with large sea anemones. They are mainly ornamental marine animals and are also kept in aquariums.
Description
These are beautiful looking species of fishes.
Size: They grow to nearly 4 inches. The largest one can reach a length of 7 inches.
Shape: The body shape of this fish is perch like – oval and laterally compressed with a lateral line.
Color: These fishes are yellow, orange, reddish or blackish in color. Some of them have snow white bar or patches.
Fins: They have rounded caudal fins with black tips.
Mouth: Their mouth is wide enough. Very easily they capture prey with its deadly stinging tentacles.
Picture 1 – Anemonefish
Distribution
Clown fishes are widely seen in Indian and Pacific oceans, Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea. They are not seen in Atlantic oceans, their distribution is limited to Indian and Pacific Ocean. Anemonefishes are also found in South East Asian region and northern Australia.
Habitat
Anemone fish prefer warm water. They live at the bottom of the shallow seas in sheltered reefs or in the shallow lagoons (body of shallow sea water separated from the sea). They usually attach themselves to rocks and underwater structures, though some of them burrow into mud or sand. Mainly they are seen residing on coastal seaward reefs as they feel safe there. They are found in sheltered lagoons at a depth of 1-14m.
Behavior
Clown fishes are noted for their unique behavioral characteristics.
Sometimes they turn aggressive than the common clown.
They are found resting motionless for much of the day.
They rarely move for more than 30cm.
They are territorial in nature.
This species of fish aerate water around the tentacle of their host anemone.
They also capture food for the anemone.
Diet
They are omnivorous. They mainly feed on zooplankton and also they prefer eating bottom dwelling invertebrates. They love eating shellfish and some even like having sea urchins, sea cucumbers, mollusk, crustacea and sea stars. Few of them prey on small fishes or shrimps with pincers on the top of their bodies. Clownfish also eats dead anemone tentacles. They only eat things that they can swallow whole. Algae contribute for 20-25% of their diet.
Predators
The orange clown anemone fish are often attacked by sharks, stingrays, and by the other larger fishes. The anemone’s stings keep the fish predators at bay.
Adaptation
They usually have many interesting adaptive features to know about.
Presence of mucus layer protects the fish from the stinging cells, nematocyst.
The mucus contains some signature chemical so that the stinging cells never attack.
They have oil based scales that allows them to fight against the predators.
Clown fishes are best known for their ability to come in contact with the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone.
They use their tentacles for protection against enemies.
These fishes also feed the anemone by leaving waste that that is left behind the tentacles.
Their fins allow them to make quick darting movements.
They have the ability to detect the correct host species.
Anemone fish does not require obvious nesting sites.
Picture 2 – Anemonefish Image
Mating Season
Their mating season is not known.
Reproduction
Clown fishes are sequential hermaphrodites. They develop into male first and when they mature, they become female. They reproduce through external fertilization. If somehow the female one is removed from the group, the most dominant male will become female. They can lay eggs on any flat surface and the male parent guards the eggs until they hatch about 5 to 10 days later, after the dusk. 100-1000 eggs are laid in spawning pass depending on the age of the female.
Life cycle
They have bipartite life cycle. Eggs and sperms are held in pouches and then the spawn is released into the sea. The life cycle has scattering pelagic larval stage and it takes 2-3 months for the fishes to become matured enough to swim alone.
Life span
They have a life span of 8 years and those living in protected environment can live up to 12 years.
Aquariums
Clown fishes or anemonefishes are often displayed in the salt water aquariums because of their high survival rate. They are raised in aquaculture facilities that decrease the pressure on wild populations. These were the first species of saltwater fish to be tank raised.
Water Characteristics: They prefer salt water.
Water Temperature: The suitable water temperature for this fish is 75-80 degree F.
Aquarium Size: Make sure that the size of the aquarium is large enough and should have plenty of rocks for the fishes to play.
Interesting facts
Know more about this clownfish
This fish is not cultivated for human consumption.
