Ocellaris clownfish
Ocellaris clownfish | |
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Specimen from the Wrocław Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Family: | Pomacentridae |
Genus: | Amphiprion |
Species: | A. ocellaris
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Binomial name | |
Amphiprion ocellaris | |
Synonyms | |
Amphiprion bicolor |
The ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris), also known as the false percula clownfish or common clownfish, is a
Phylogeny
The species Amphiprion ocellaris belongs to the class
Description
The common clownfish is a small fish which grows up to 11 cm (4.3 inches).
Distribution and habitat
This species is found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific Ocean.[4] As mentioned earlier, they can also be found in Northern Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan.[3]
Amphiprion ocellaris typically lives in small groups on outer reef slopes or in sheltered lagoons at a maximal depth of 15 meters. It inhabits three different species of sea anemones: Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea and Stichodactyla mertensii and have symbiotic relationships with the anemone.[3][6][11]
Behavior
Amphiprion ocellaris is a diurnal fish. It is a protandrous hermaphrodite, which means the male can change its sex to female during its life, and lives in a harem in which an established dominance hierarchy manages the group and keeps individuals at a specific social rank. It is aggressively territorial and is completely dependent on its sea anemone.[11]
Shelter
Amphiprion ocellaris are reliant on sea anemone for shelter (they have a symbiotic relationship with the sea anemone). Sea anemone are protection for the fish and their nests. This is because when A. ocellaris are in the open waters, they have a higher risk of predation. It is postulated that the fanning behavior of the fish and removal of parasites promotes the health of
Social system
Social systems can be defined as society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships.[12] A. ocellaris form specific social hierarchies within their societies. These social hierarchies result in competition to travel between the different levels of society, which is seen between various ages as well.
Queue selection
Queues is the term for social groups of A. ocellaris. This is because these fish form social hierarchies, or social rank, by outliving the more dominant members of the group. The dominant pair of each queue reproduces more compared to the subordinate fishes. This is the reason for why these individuals should adopt various tactics in which they increase their probability of attaining social dominance. There are two types of A. ocellaris, settlers and switchers. Settlers prefer shorter queues, while switchers will usually move after settlement. However, studies show that there is no difference in the characteristics between switchers and non-switchers, and there is no data demonstrating that A. ocellaris utilize the switching tactic for dominance. Although settlement preferences increase the likelihood of gaining social dominance, switching could have the function of increasing social dominance benefits after social dominance has been acquired.[13]
Juvenile Amphiprion ocellaris
Juvenile A. ocellaris have difficulty finding a sea anemone to live in (since they need anemone for survival and shelter). The difficulty also arises in the fact that there exists a hierarchy in each anemone. Thus, when a new juvenile enters an anemone, it begins at the bottom of the social ladder where it is often the victim of aggression by other clownfish. This aggression from other A. ocellaris in the anemone can cause the juvenile to be chased out of the anemone, and left to search for another anemone.[5][6][14][15]
Group size and patch size
Studies have shown that there is a correlation between the size of the group and the size of the patch; however this correlation provides no implication that subordinate group members have less resources. More likely, it is the effects of the patch size on the group member that dominates interactions. An experiment was performed to study the mechanism responsible for the positive correlation between the group size and patch size. The scientists argued that the correlation between the group size and patch size is because of the indirect consequence of the positive relationship between the dominant group member's length and the anemone size. The length of the dominant group member limits the group size because the length of the dominant group member prevents the group of the subordinate group members. This data shows that the patch size and group size correlation does not necessarily imply the decrease in resources of group members subordinate to the dominant group member.[16]
Food habits
Amphiprion ocellaris feed on plankton and algae, thus they are considered omnivores. Feeding is also affected by the hierarchy in A. ocellaris groups. Since the smaller, less dominant fish face aggression from the more aggressive fish, they have less energy to forage for food. Thus, they usually do not eat as much as the dominant fish do, because of reduced energy, but also because of the increased danger they face when they leave their anemone since they are smaller. In other words, the larger fish will usually travel farther than the smaller fish. Generally, the A. ocellaris feed on algae, copepods, and zooplankton.[5][15][17]
Reproduction and life history
Amphiprion ocellaris have reproductive behaviors very similar to that of all
Spawning
There is not much data on the reproduction of A. ocellaris. However, similar behaviors throughout all anemone fishes have been recorded. These fish have
Reproductive hierarchy
All anemonefish are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they first develop into males and may become females later in life. Anemonefish exhibit phenotypic plasticity when males, females, and juveniles inhabit the same anemone. In an anemonefish social group, the female is the dominant and largest member, followed by the dominant male, while other anemonefish remain non-reproductive.[18]
One experiment placed three juvenile anemonefish in a tank and observed their behaviors over the course of a month. The researchers drew conclusions about the fish's social hierarchy based on signs of dominance such as aggressive or appeasing behaviors, occupation of territory in the tank, and body mass increase. The dominant fish grew larger compared to lower-ranked fish, suggesting the lower-ranked fish experienced growth suppression. In addition, a difference in the fish's levels of certain steroids suggested that lower-ranked individuals also experienced reproductive suppression.[19]
Another experiment demonstrated that when a female anemonefish is removed from the anemone, then the dominant male becomes the female and the next-highest-ranked male moves up the dominance hierarchy to become the dominant male. Females use aggressive dominance behavior to control the males, preventing the formation of other females, and dominant males prevent juvenile males from mating.[18]
In aquaria
In nature, the false percula clownfish is hosted by Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea. However, in captivity in a
Human interaction
Amphiprion ocellaris are utilized as part of the tropical fish aquarium trade. However, only certain colors are in demand. In addition, A. ocellaris are used in research since they can be bred easily.[20] This high demand in trade has been dangerous for A. ocellaris' population due to overexploitation[citation needed].
Popular culture
The main characters Marlin and his son Nemo from the animated film Finding Nemo, and its sequel Finding Dory (as well as his late wife Coral), are ocellaris clownfish.
References
- . Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Bailly, N. (2010). Bailly N (ed.). "Amphiprion ocellaris Cuvier, 1830". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e f Allen, G. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-East Asia. Perth: Western Australian Museum.
- ^ a b c d "Amphiprion ocellaris". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ ISBN 9780730983651. Archived from the originalon 10 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d Myers, R. 1999. Miconesian Reef Fish: A Field Guide for Divers and Aquarists. Barrigada: Territory of Guam: Coral Graphics.
- ISBN 9780730987512
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Amphiprion ocellaris" in FishBase. November 2014 version.
- ISBN 2-7114-1525-2.
- ^ "Dianne J. Bray, 2011, Western Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris, in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Aug 2014".
- ^ a b c Newcomb, Dani. "Amphiprion ocellaris (Clown anemonefish)". Animal Diversity Web.
- ^ "social system". TheFreeDictionary.com.
- ^ Mitchell, Jeremy. "Queue Selection and Switching by False Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion Ocellaris." Animal Behavior 69 (2005): 643-52. Science Direct. Web.
- ^ Arvedlund, M., L. Nielsen. 1996. Do the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris (Pisces: Pomacentridae) imprint themselves to their host sea anemone Heteractis magnifica (Athozoa: Actinidae)?. Ethology, 102: 197-211.
- ^ a b c Thresher, R. 1984. Reproduction in Reef Fishes. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
- ^ J.S. Mitchell1,2 and L.M. Dill. Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
- ^ Sano, M., M. Shimizu, Y. Nose. 1984. Food habits of teleostean reef fishes in Okinawa Island, Southern Japan. Japan: University of Tokyo Press.
- ^ a b Fricke, H., S. Fricke. 1977. Monogamy and sex change by aggressive dominance in coral reef fish. Nature, 266: 830-832.
- ^ Iwata, Eri, Yukiko Nagai, Mai Hyoudou, and Hideaki Sasaki. "Social Environment and Sex Differentiation in the False Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris." Zoological Science 25.2 (2008): 123-28. Print.
- ^ Sadovy, Y., A. Vincent (2002). "Ecological Issue and the Trade in Live Reef Fishes". pp. 395 in P Sale, ed. Coral Reef Fishes. San Diego, California: Academic Press.
External links
- Media related to Amphiprion ocellaris at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Ocellaris clownfish at Wikispecies
- "Amphiprion ocellaris". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Amphiprion ocellaris. Cuvier, 1830. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
- Aquaticdatabase entry for Amphiprion ocellaris (Ocellaris Clownfish).
- Photo Gallery of Amphiprion ocellaris and their eggs (ger.)
- Aquarium Wiki care information on Amphiprion ocellaris
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Amphiprion ocellaris" in FishBase. November 2014 version.
- Photos of Ocellaris clownfish on Sealife Collection