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Clownfish

  • SEA LIFE Berlin, Tropical coral reef
2 Clownfish Live In Family Groups Of Parents And Their Offspring Cropped

Probably the most famous fish species in the world

Clownfish belong to the group of anemone fishes: All anemonefish are born male. The dominant, largest animal in an anemone is always the only female. If the female dies, the strongest male transforms into a female within a week. In the wild, female clownfish usually lay their eggs during full moon; the larvae hatch after only 6 days.

They even live between poisonous anemones, but are not hurt by them, because they let the anemone tentacles slide over their body until they are immune against the poison. With its anemone the clownfish lives together in a symbiosis: Even though it lives in the ocean, it is not a good swimmer and therefore never strays far from its anemone, it is dependent on protection. 

At the same time he can also protect the anemone by scaring its predators by swimming out when they feed.

But not all anemones enter a symbiosis with anemone fish. Those in which anemonefish live, however, have a very special "personal care service" - the anemonefish removes debris, trash and parasites from the anemone.
Although anemones are more animal than plant, some actually do photosynthesis - they use sunlight to produce energy.

Look out for the clownfish on the tropical coral reef.

10582 Clownfish With Anemone

At the beginning a pure man's world

Some clownfish species are born exclusively as males; in each group one of them will only change its sex when the last female (formerly a male) dies.

10581 Clownfish Swimming By An Anemone

Family life

Clownfish live in family groups consisting of parents and their offspring.

Health