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Fish. Much is still unknown about the unique relationship that anemone fish have with another animal, the anemone. The fish stay close to their anemone host, retreating in amongst its stinging tentacles when threatened. While predators are repelled, a thick mucous covering protects the anemone fish from its host. Very territorial, anemone fish live in pairs or small groups. The largest female and her mate, which is the second largest fish in the group, dominate the community. They bully the smaller fish. If one of the dominant fish dies, the rest move up in status according to size, changing their gender if necessary. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Amphiprion bicinctus |
6 to 10 years |
| Diet |
| Omnivore. Algae and tiny, free-floating ocean plants called plankton. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Larger fish, including sharks and stingrays, and humans. |
| Habitat |
| They live in shallow, tropical salt water with their anemone hosts. Found in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Chagos Archipelago. |
