Clownfish

ID points

• Orange body with three broad white bands, each edged in black
• Rarely leaves its anemone, weaving among the tentacles
• Rounded tail fin, evenly saturated orange all over

Basics

Family

Pomacentridae

Length

6–11 cm

Depth

1-15 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs

Diet

Zooplankton, algae, anemone leftovers

Easily confused with

Humbug DamselfishThree straight broad black vertical bands on a white groundMaroon ClownfishDeep maroon red with three thin white or gold bandsTomato ClownfishDeep tomato red, with only one white vertical band on the head

Fun fact

Clownfish and sea anemones live in partnership, and both sides gain from it. The anemone's stinging tentacles keep the clownfish safe, while the clownfish picks parasites off its host. A special mucus coating on their skin makes them immune to the anemone's venom. The largest fish in a clownfish group is always the female, and a male can change sex to become one when the group needs it.

More in this family

• Blue-green Chromis
• Clark's Anemonefish
• Damselfish
• Garibaldi
• Sergeant Major
• Three-spot Dascyllus