Clown Fish (also known as ANEMONE fish) is a small species of fish found around tropical coral reefs. The species most commonly known clown fish is orange with white spots, but the clownfish can be found in many different colors and can also vary in shape. There are 28 recognized species of clownfish that is found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The clown fish is also north to the Red Sea and inhabit the Great Barrier Reef, on the east coast of Australia.Clown fish inhabit a single sea anemone in groups that include the breeding male and female and a number of younger male clown fish. All clown fish are born male and develop female reproductive organs when needed. When the female in the sea anemone group dies, the dominant male becomes female and breeds with one the males that is inhabiting the same sea anemone. Female clown fish lay their eggs on a flat surface close to the sea anemone which they inhabit. The female clown fish can lay hundreds or thousands of eggs at one time depending on the species. Clown fish lay their eggs around the same time as a full moon and the male clown fish guards the eggs until they hatch just over a week later.
Clown fish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they are hatched as sexually immature fry. Based on signals from their environment and being physically mature (12-24 months) they will either remain sexually immature, change into a male or change into a male then female. A group of clownfish is always built into a hierarchy of this type, with the female (the largest and most aggressive) at the top. The change from juvenile to male, and male to female is irreversible. If the female should die or be removed from the group, the most dominant male then changes into a female, and the rest of the males move up a rank on the hierarchy.
Clown Fish
Clown Fish
Clown Fish
Clown Fish
Clown Fish
Clown Fish
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