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AnimalsAnemone
Anemone
Common Name: Barrier Reef Anemonefish
Scientific Name: Amphiprion akindynos
Description
This species
grows to 12cm in length. The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is brown
with two black-edged white bars. The first bar crosses the
head. The second bar crosses the body at the middle of the
dorsal fin. The tail is white. Anemonefish, also called Clownfish,
are well known for their habit of living with large, tropical
sea anemones. The species name akindynos comes from the Greek
word meaning safe or without danger. This refers to the condition
the fish enjoys while tucked among the tentacles of its host.
Diet
Anemonefish feed on small
drifting animals called zooplankton and algae.
They may also feed on scraps of fish captured by their host
anemone.
Behaviour
Unlike other
fishes, anemonefish can maintain immunity to toxic stinging
cells in the anemone's tentacles by constantly stroking their
bodies over tentacle surfaces. Some research suggests that
the fish secrete mucus that helps protect them from the anemone's
sting. Mucus from the anemone builds up on the fish's skin
until it becomes 'anemone-like' and the anemone itself
does not distinguish between the fish and its own tentacles
or recognises the fish as potential food. The anemonefish
benefits from the partnership, gaining a protected place to
live within the anemone's stinging tentacles.
The anemones also benefit
from their partnership with the anemonefish. Anemonefish defend
their host anemones from predatory fishes that are immune
to the stinging cells. Some researchers also report that anemonefish
may 'feed' their anemones by dropping bits of food
on the anemone surface. Anemonefish spend their entire adult
lives with a single host.
Most anemones are found in shallow waters, but one kind of tube anemone has adapted to live near sea vents, 1.5 miles below the surface. They attach themselves to the seafloor, and capture food with their tentacles.
Life History
As a general
rule anemonefish enter into permanent monogamous pairings.
Juveniles live on an anemone with a sexually mature male and
female pair. If the female dies, her male partner develops
into a female to take her place. The largest juvenile then
grows rapidly and replaces him as the dominant male.
Males typically prepare
a nest site for spawning and then attract the egg-bearing
female to the nest. The male guards the nest from predators
and other males while the female lays her eggs in long rows,
forming a solid, uniform mass of eggs in a single layer. The
eggs adhere to the substrate and clutch size varies from 200
to 2500 eggs depending on the species. Generally the young
fish (fry) when hatched are left to look after themselves.
Habitat
These fish live in warm
tropical waters, usually at depths of 1-12 m, on sheltered
inshore and offshore coral reefs and most importantly, where
one or more of 10 favoured host anemone species are found.
Special Features or Habits
Anemonefish can change from
male into female. They start off male, but
if the female dies the dominant male will change into a female.
A non-dominant male will then become the dominant male.
Location or Region Found
Western Pacific: eastern
Australia (Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, northern New
South Wales), New Caledonia, and Loyalty Islands.
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