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Common Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris Size: Common Clownfish can grow up to approximately 11 cm in length. Appearance: The body of the fish is bright orange, with three thick white stripes distributed vertically across the body. These white stripes are accompanied by thin black stripes which separate the white and orange coloring. Each of the fins also features a thin black outline. Additionally, the Common Clownfish has between 10-11 dorsal spines, as well as 13-17 dorsal soft rays. Range/Distribution: These clownfish are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, specifically in the regions between Thailand, Northwest Australia, Singapore and Taiwan. Habitat: Clownfish are the only species of fish that live among the tentacles of sea anemones— other fish would be stung by the anemone, but clownfish secrete a mucus over their entire bodies that makes the anemone think it is in contact with itself and therefore prevents it from stinging. This is a symbiotic relationship between the anemones and the clownfish, as the fish are protected from predators, and the anemone is maintained by the clownfish, which keeps it parasite-free and well-fed. Anemones that provide homes for clownfish are typically found in warm, shallow waters, and clam lagoon areas. Prey: Clownfish eat a variety of creatures that are usually left over from their host anemones, including zooplankton, copepods and isopods. Predators: Predators to clownfish include larger fish, sharks, and rays. Life Span: In the wild, clownfish can live to between 6 and 10 years of age. Reproduction: Common Clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning that all clownfish are born with active male reproductive organs as well as dormant female reproductive organs. If a female dies, the dominant male in the hierarchy will change into a female, and a secondary male will become the dominant male. Females generally lay their 100 to 1,000 eggs in an area close to the anemone where they reside, then males care for the eggs by keeping them clear of debris, protecting them from predators such as other fish, and by fanning them with their fins. After four to five days, the eggs hatch, at which point the young clownfish spend about two weeks drifting around in the sea before finding a host anemone. Conservation Status: The IUCN has not designated the Common Clownfish as a species with any imminent threats to its survival. Threats: Clownfish, as with many species that reside in tropical waters, are susceptible to several threats associated with climate change, including loss of habitat, ocean acidification, and increasing water temperatures. As the temperature of the ocean rises, more and more coral bleaching events occur, which causes corals to expel their symbiotic algae and generally leads to the death of the coral—this destroys critical reef habitats where anemones would usually be found, and therefore causes a dilemma for clownfish. An additional effect of rising temperatures is the strain it puts on clownfish reproduction. Clownfish will only reproduce if the water is within a fairly narrow temperature range, and as the ocean temperature rises, more and more clownfish are discouraged from reproducing. Finally, research has shown that with increasing ocean acidification, clownfish are unable to detect the chemical signals necessary to locate their anemone, leaving them exposed to predators and weakening their immunity to the anemone’s sting. What’s being done? Clownfish themselves are not the focus of any particular conservation efforts, but much work is being done to support the health of coral reefs across the globe. This includes reducing carbon emissions, recycling, and working towards the reduction of climate change. Fun Facts: Marlin and Nemo from Pixar’s Finding Nemo are Common Clownfish. Clownfish communicate with each other by slamming their teeth together to make clicking and popping noises. Clownfish form social hierarchies among groups, which helps to establish mating pairs, dominant individuals and govern other social interactions. References http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Amphiprion-ocellaris.html (photo and information) http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=29 http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=3390 http://www.arkive.org/common-clownfish/amphiprion-ocellaris/