Clownfish
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The Clownfishes, or Anemonefishes, are in the genus Amphiprion in the Pomacentridae family. There are currently 27 species known to this family, 26 of which are in the genus Amphiprion and the other species is in the genus Premnas, also known as Damselfish. These two genera comprise the subfamily Amphiprioninae.
Clownfishes are native to wide ranges of the warm waters of the Pacific; some species ranges overlap others. Clownfishes are not found in the Atlantic. Clownfishes are marked by their behavior of living in a comensual relationship with sea anemones. Once an anemone has been adopted, the clownfish will defend it vigorously. However, clownfishes in an aquarium environment can exist very well without an anemone. (This may be advisable as anemones are extremely difficult to keep alive even for experienced aquarists.) Clownfishes can avoid the stings of their host anemones because they have secretory cells producing a layer of mucus on their bodies. The mucus is based on sugar rather than proteins so anemones fail to recognize the fish as food and do not fire their nematocysts, or sting cells.
Clownfishes are among the few marine fishes that can be bred in captivity in commercially-viable quantities at the time of this writing. Hobbyists are advised to purchase captive-born clownfishes (and other marine animals) whenever possible. The Amphiprions are attractive in colour and usually wear bright colours. Example: orange, black, and white. They are good for a marine aquarium because they are friendly and easy to feed. They adapt well in captivity and can be easily studied for scientific research. These warm water fishes have a higher metabolism which makes them more active than the cold-water fishes.
Clownfishes lay eggs on any flat surface close to or under protection of their host anemones. These eggs are cared for by the male and hatched under complete darkness after a period of 7 to 10 days. Hatching occurs in a natural rhythm directly connected to the phases of the moon. Clownfishes are omnivorous, their diets range from flakes to meat. They feed mostly on copepods and mysids, the undigested excrement from their host anemones.
Clownfishes are relatively small organisms to human. No clownfish species has ever grown excessively large. Fishes in aquaria can grow up to 3.5 inches in length, whereas fishes in the wild can grow up to a length of 5 inches.
A school of clownfishes is always built into a hierarchy. On top of the hirearchy is always a female fish and the rest are male, ranking from the most dominant to the least dominant. If the female clownfish should die or be removed from the school, the most dominant male is then going to change into a female, and the rest of the other males will move up a rank on the hierarchy. This process of sex changing is called spawning. This process is also common in the marine environment and is a meant to keep the species in existence.
Species in this group include (common name followed by scientific name):
- Allard's Clownfish Amphiprion allardi
- Cinnamon Clownfish Amphiprion melanopus
- Clark's Anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii
- Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris
- Percula Clownfish Amphiprion percula
- Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion
- Saddleback Clownfish Amphiprion polymnus
- Sebae Clownfish Amphiprion sebae
- Three-Band Anemonefish Amphiprion tricinctus
- Tomato Clownfish Amphiprion ephippium
- Fire Clownfish Amphiprion frenatus
- Orange-fin Anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus
- Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion akallopisos
- Black-footed Clownfish Amphiprion nigripes
- Orange Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion sandaracinos
- Australian Clownfish Amphiprion rubacinctus
- Maroon Clownfish Premnas biaculeatus
Clownfish featured prominently in the 2003 Pixar-animated movie Finding Nemo.