Everyone "knows" about clownfish thanks to the Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo. In fact, according to National Geographic, sales of clownfish have tripled since the release of the film in 2003. Given that Finding Nemo was a kid’s movie, there were a lot of things left out regarding the actual nature of a clownfish. For example, did you know that all clownfish are born male? So, how do we get female clownfish?
Incredibly, male clownfish can actually become female, because they carry both male and female reproductive characteristics. To get more technical – a male clownfish can dissolve its testes, while ovaries form from latent ovarian cells. Once they make the change, it’s permanent.
Clownfish live in groups, led by a female alpha. She is the largest fish, while the dominant male is the second largest. The remaining males in the group are smaller. If the female alpha dies, the dominant male will make the switch to female, while the largest of the smaller males will become the dominant male. This ensures the continued existence of these unique and beautiful fish.
Clowning around:
- Clownfish live in anemones, which have tentacles that release toxins whenever something touches them. According to National Geographic, clownfish develop immunity to these toxins by touching the tentacles with different parts of their bodies, forming a protective layer of mucus.
- Clownflish communicate with each other via popping and clicking sounds. Researchers believe this helps the fish maintain rank and prevents conflict within the group.
- Female clownfish can lay up to 1,000 eggs. The male will eat any eggs that are damaged or infertile.