Clownfish, also called anemonefish, is a group of small, colorful fish popular in home aquariums. Some species (kinds) of clownfish have bright orange and white stripes, though colors vary. The largest clownfish grow from 4 to 61/2 inches (10 to 17 centimeters) long. They live in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Clownfish live closely with certain species of sea anemones, a kind of sea animal related to jellyfish and corals that somewhat resembles a flower. The particular anemone a clownfish lives with is called its host. Clownfish help clean their hosts by eating debris and parasites. They also attack fish that might otherwise eat their hosts. Clownfish can also scare away predators (preying animals) with pulses of sound made by slamming their teeth together. Stinging cells in the anemone’s tentacles, in turn, help protect clownfish from predators. A special mucus on the clownfish’s skin protects the fish from being stung.
Clownfish often live in small groups, with a breeding male and female and several smaller, non-breeding males. If the female dies, the breeding male changes its sex, becoming female. The next largest fish becomes the breeding male.
