Clownfish

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox subfamilia entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision Twenty-seven, including:
Amphiprion allardi - Allard's Clownfish
Amphiprion melanopus - Cinnamon Clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii - Clark's Anemonefish
Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion percula - Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion perideraion - Pink Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus - Saddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion sebae - Sebae Clownfish
Amphiprion tricinctus - Three-Band Anemonefish
Amphiprion ephippium - Tomato Clownfish
Amphiprion frenatus - Fire Clownfish
Amphiprion chrysopterus - Orange-fin Anemonefish
Amphiprion akallopisos - Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion nigripes - Black-footed Clownfish
Amphiprion sandaracinos - Orange Skunk Clownfish
Amphiprion rubacinctus - Australian Clownfish
Premnas biaculeatus - Maroon Clownfish Template:Taxobox end The Clownfish, or Anemonefish, are a subfamily of the family Pomacentridae. There are currently 27 species, of which one is in the genus Premnas and the rest are in the genus Amphiprion. The other pomacentrids are called damselfish.

Clownfish are native to wide ranges of the warm waters of the Pacific; some species ranges overlap others. Clownfish are not found in the Atlantic. Clownfish live in a comensual relationship with sea anemones. Once an anemone has been adopted, the clownfish will defend it vigorously. However, clownfish in an aquarium environment can exist very well without an anemone. (This may be advisable as anemones are extremely difficult to keep alive even for experienced aquarists.) To avoid the stings of their host anemones clown fish have secretory cells producing a layer of mucus on their bodies. The mucus is based on sugar rather than proteins so anemones fail to recognize the fish as food and do not fire their nematocysts, or sting cells.

Clownfish are among the few marine fish that can be bred in captivity in commercially-viable quantities at the time of this writing. Hobbyists are advised to purchase captive-born clownfish (and other marine animals) whenever possible. The Amphiprions are attractive in colour and usually wear bright colours. Example: orange, black, and white. They are good for a marine aquarium because they are friendly and easy to feed. They adapt well in captivity and can be easily studied for scientific research. These warm water fish have a higher metabolism which makes them more active than the cold-water fish.

Clownfish lay eggs on any flat surface close to or under protection of their host anemones. These eggs are cared for by the male and hatched under complete darkness after a period of 7 to 10 days. Hatching occurs in a natural rhythm directly connected to the phases of the moon. Clownfish are omnivorous, their diets range from flakes to meat. They feed mostly on copepods and mysids, the undigested excrement from their host anemones.

Clownfish are relatively small organisms, fish in aquaria can grow to 9 cm (3.5 inches) in length, fish in the wild can grow to a length of 12 cm (5 inches).

Clownfish in a zoo aquarium

A school of clownfish is always built into a hierarchy. At the top is always a female fish, the rest are male, ranking from the most dominant to the least dominant. If the female clownfish should die or be removed from the school, the most dominant male then changes into a female, and the rest of the males move up a rank on the hierarchy. This process of sex changing is called spawning. This process is common in the marine environment and is a means of keeping the species in existence.

Clownfish featured prominently in the 2003 Pixar-animated movie Finding Nemo. It is a common misconception that they are funnier than normal fish. They are not.