Clownfish in the Great Barrier Reef

Common Name: Clownfish, Anemonefish or Anemone Fish
Family: Pomacentridae

Clownfish have become one of the most famous reef fish in the world thanks to the success of the children's film "Finding Nemo". There are many species of Clownfish and although many dive sites credit themselves with the highest variety of Clownfish.  Indonesia has the highest concentration of species, while countries like Australia, which although only has 12 species has a number of unique variants.  Most Clownfish can be found in shallow water reefs or sand from 1 to 18 metres.  Some sub species can be found in deeper water on shelves or drop offs to about 35 metres. Clownfish are found in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, South East Asia region, northern Australia and the Western Pacific.  They are not known to the Caribbean, Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean.

Clownfish have a special symbiotic (mutaully beneficial) relationship with sea anemones.  Normally, the nematocysts or stinging cells of an anemone's tentacles discharge when fish brush against their tentacles, paralyzing the fish.  However Clownfish appear to be at home among the tentacles, even hiding among them as predators approach.  There are many theories concerning the mechanism that makes this possible, but the most widely held view is that these fish have a special biochemical makeup of their mucus layer that provides protection from the stinging cells.
 

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