Some of the destruction has been caused by fishermen catching clownfish to sell as pets.Īccording to National Geographic, since “Finding Nemo” premiered clownfish sales have tripled. However, in the last generation, 15 to 30 percent of the world's reefs have been lost, according to the ADW. Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Osteichthyes Class: Actinopterygii Subclass: Neopterygii Infraclass: Teleostei Superorder: Acanthopterygii Order: Perciformes Suborder: Labroidei Family: Pomacentridae Genus: Amphiprion Species: Amphiprion ocellaris Conservation status This is the taxonomy of false clownfish, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS): As juveniles, the young will settle to the bottom of the reef to search for a host anemone. They start their lives clear or transparent, but as they begin to mature they start to gain the color of their species. The larvae float away and spend about 10 days adrift. The male does most of the "egg sitting." He will fan them and eat any eggs that are infertile or damaged by fungus, according to the ADW. The male then passes over the nest and releases sperm to fertilize the eggs. She will lay from 100 to 1,000 eggs, which are 3 to 4 millimeters long. She will make several passes over the nest before depositing her eggs. He chases the female to the nest, but after that it is up to her to make the next move. He then courts a female with a show of extended fins, biting and chasing, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Before spawning, the male prepares a nest by clearing a spot on bare rock near the anemone, according to the ADW. Little is known specifically about false clownfish mating behaviors, but the general behaviors of anemonefish are known. As they get larger, they will seek out food, though they don't venture much more than a few meters from the anemone, according to the ADW. When small, the fish tend to stay within the confines of their anemone host. They typically eat algae, zooplankton, worms and small crustaceans, according to the National Aquarium. (Image credit: © Jürgen Freund / WWF-Canon.) DietĬlownfish are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants. Nemo? A clown anemonefish, Papua New Guinea.
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