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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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