Download Connecticut - NIEonline.com

Connecticut
Nature
Common Core Standards ELA: Reading Informational Text (3.1-7 through 6.1-7)
Animal Spotlight- Clownfish
Written by Mystic Aquarium
Looking to “Find Nemo”? Look for a small, tropical fish with a bright orange body and vertical
white stripes. Clownfish, like Nemo, live on tropical reefs throughout Southeast Asia and Northern
Australia. Within the reefs, they reside in sea anemones. These anemones have a trunk-like body
and tentacles containing stinging cells used for catching their prey. Though anemones can sting, the
clownfish has no problem living in one, thanks to a mucous coating that covers the fish’s entire body.
Sea anemones and clownfish have what scientists call a symbiotic relationship, which means that they
depend on each other for survival. Clownfish are protected from potential predators such as large fish, sharks
and rays by the anemone’s tentacles. The clownfish also gets food by eating fish and algae that may be on the
anemone. The anemone gets better water circulation because the clownfish fans its fins while swimming around
inside and the clownfish chase away some fish that might try to harm the anemone.
Clownfish populations can be harmed by climate change because the changes affect the coral reef environments
where they live. Warmer ocean waters and more severe storms can damage the fragile reefs leaving the clownfish
without a home. Humans can also harm populations of clownfish by over-collecting them for the commercial fish
trade and using destructive fishing techniques that can harm their environments. In fact, coral reefs face so many
problems that the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have
considered adding the clownfish to the Endangered Species list.
Conservation Corner—Preserving coral reefs
Conserve energy
Coral reefs are one of the biggest victims of climate change, and they serve as habitat for hundreds (if not thousands!)
of species. Turn off the lights and the water when you don’t need to use them, and carpool, walk or bike as much as
you can.
Support the legal pet trade
Only purchase pets from places that practice habitat-friendly harvesting techniques. Some people destroy coral reefs
while trying to catch exotic fish to sell into the illegal pet trade, which winds up destroying the home of many other
species.
Initiate change
Change can start in your own backyard—contact local officials about recycling programs, organize cleanups of public
spaces, and Earth-friendly events as simple as planting trees! Even small-scale practices can make a huge difference
A ctivity
for coral reefs as well as your own community.
Student
Did You Know?
Clownfish are very active and thought to be
“clowning around”.
Clownfish communicate with each other by
slamming their teeth together to make clicking
and popping noises.
Females can lay between 400 and 1500 eggs
at a time!
All clownfish are born as males. They will only
become a female if their small group needs a
female for mating.
Cool Connections To Learn More:
Visit Mystic Aquarium to see and learn about all different types of clownfish, as well as some
of the other species that call a coral reef home.
-Take part in a Mystic Aquarium class, program or teacher workshop either at your school or at
the Aquarium to learn more about a variety of marine animals. Visit http://www.mysticaquarium.org/fun-and-learning for more information.
-Visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Fisheries website at
http://coralreef.noaa.gov to learn more about coral reef conservation efforts.