Amphiprion ocellaris
FAMILY
Pomacentridae
TAXONOMY
Amphiprion ocellaris Cuvier, 1830, Sumatra, Indonesia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Common clownfish, false clown anemonefish.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Total length 4.3 in (11 cm). Distinctive orange fish with three
wide, vertical, white bands encircling the body just behind the
eyes, at midback and in front of the tail. The fins and rounded
tail are outlined in black, then edged in grayish white. Similar
in general appearance to A. percula.
DISTRIBUTION
Coastal waters surrounding Indonesia; north and west to
Burma, north and east past the Philippines to southern Japan,
and as far south as northern Australia.
HABITAT
Prefers the sheltered shallow waters of lagoons, where it takes
up residence among sea anemones.
BEHAVIOR
Most well known for its symbiotic relationship with the sea
anemone. The clown anemonefish lives safely among the stinging
cells, or nematocysts, of the anemone due at least in part to
the specialized mucus layer that coats the fish. In this arrangement,
the fish gains protection from predators, while the
anemone receives a regular cleaning from the clown anemonefish.
The fish has such a symbiotic relationship with four different
species of sea anemones.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Eats mainly invertebrates that it often finds among the sea
anemone’s tentacles. Usually ventures only short distances from
the shelter of the anemone, which has stinging tentacles. The
sting deters most other species, making the anemone a safe haven.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Protandrous, lives in small groups in which all but two fishes
are sexually immature males. The largest two in each group are
sexually mature, with the larger being the only female in the
group. If the female is removed, the sexually mature male develops
into a sexually mature female, and the next largest has a
growth spurt and becomes the sexually mature male. A dominance
hierarchy controls the shift from male to female, and
from immature to sexually mature.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Very popular marine aquarium fish. Many of the individuals
sold are captive-bred.
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