Pink Skunk Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion)
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Observed: Koh Chang Reefs,
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes
Don’t think Nemo! Clownfishes are amazing beasts in all kinds of ways. First up is their symbiotic relationship with the poisonous sea anenomes that provide them shelter. they are impervious to the venom of their host and they protect the anemones from predation by other species and are in turn protected from attack by their host. A pretty fair deal.
Also they are sequential hermaphrodites with strict gender and size based hierarchies. This means that if one of them dies another will change gender and role to fill the gap. This is fascinating, read about it here. Imagine that system applied to humanity.
They are feisty little things, as divers will tell you, and not at all intimidated by size, but stay out of their territory and you’ll be left alone.
Pink Skunk Clownfish Wikipedia
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes
