Table of contents
Introduction
The Amphiprioninae, more commonly known as clownfish or Anemone fish, are part of the pomacentridae family. There are around thirty species in this family. These fish, which generally measure around ten centimeters, come in shades of orange and black, with some species featuring white stripes or bars.
Clownfish are remarkable for several reasons. They are best known for their mutualistic relationship with ten species of sea anemone, which are normally lethal to other fish. What’s more, their vivid coloring and unique behavior have made them famous, not least thanks to the Disney film, Nemo.
Physical description
Clownfish are generally small, measuring between 6 and 16 cm in length. They are known for their bright colors, which vary from yellow, orange or red to black, often with white stripes or spots.
Habitats and distribution
Clownfish are widely distributed in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, the coral reefs of Polynesia and the Philippines. They live in sea anemones, forming a colony consisting of a breeding female and male and a variable number of smaller juveniles. They are generally found at depths of between 1 and 15 meters.
Behavior
Clownfish are known for their unique mutualistic relationship with sea anemones. They live among the anemone’s venomous tentacles. These can kill fish. But clownfish are completely immune, and in return they help the anemone to protect itself against certain predators such as slugs and starfish and clean its tentacles. They are also very territorial and actively defend their host anemone.
Diet
Clownfish are omnivores and feed on a variety of small prey, including zooplankton, small crustaceans and algae.
Reproduction
Although not well known in the wild, the lifespan of clownfish is estimated at around 6 to 10 years. Clownfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning that they are born male and have the ability to transform into females if necessary. The group is dominated by the largest female, and if she dies, the dominant male transforms into a female. The gestation period for the eggs, which measure 3 to 4 mm in length, is around 8 to 12 days.
Threats and conservation
Clownfish are threatened by habitat loss due to the destruction of coral reefs and climate change. In addition, their beautiful colors make them popular and they are therefore collected for the aquarium trade. However, efforts are underway to breed these fish in captivity and reduce the pressure on wild populations.
Main species to watch
There are many species of clownfish, but some of the most notable include the ocellaris clownfish, often associated with Nemo from the Disney film, and the percula clownfish, which is similar in appearance but has thicker black stripes.
In the Philippines, several species of clownfish can be seen. For example, the Amphiprion thiellei, the Amphiprion perideraion, also known as the pink clownfish. In addition, the very popular ocellaris clownfish is commonly seen on the reefs of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
