Ocellaris Clownfish
Encyclopedia
The Ocellaris Clownfish, Clownfish or False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is a popular aquarium
fish. It is very closely related to A. percula, the Orange Clownfish or "True Percula Clownfish", and often lives in association with the sea anemone
Heteractis magnifica
, using them for shelter and protection. Generally, Ocellaris clownfish are hardier, and slightly less aggressive than its Percula counterpart. Both species are found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Fiji and Tonga regions.
There is a rare melanistic variety
hailing from the reefs around Darwin
, Australia
, that is a darker color with the normal white stripes. Although not common in the wild, they are becoming more and more popular in the aquarium hobby.
Clownfish have many structures which are analogous with other species, the distinctive stripes found on the clownfish can be seen in few animals. Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoidesor otherwise known as the Scarlet King Snake has a well-defined pattern of red, black and yellow bands. These two structures both have characterises that are similar in use, the bands of each species help warn off predators if the animal is in danger. These bands also help camouflage both organisms in each of their different environments. The bright orange base striped with white found on the clownfish allows it to be undetected in its surroundings of fluorescent corals and anemones.
All fish have a mucus membrane surrounding their scales. The mucus usually contains high amounts of lipids and glycoproteins; however, the family Pomacentridae (anemone fish) have a special adaptation where the mucus coating the species is a great deal thicker. Also the protective layer lacks a specific substance that triggers nematocysts (the stings of an anemone); this allows the fish immunity against the toxic stings. Little is known about the mucus except that it is a genetically inherited trait and passed through the generations of each species. In other families of fish, the mucus is used as protection against harmful bacteria, an osmotic regulator and also aids the fish in nest making. The difference in mucuses has led to the divergent path of anemone fish and other species .
film, Finding Nemo
featured the clown fish duo, Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould
) a juvenile clownfish, the title character/Marlin's son, and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks
) as Nemo's overprotective father. Nemo's mother, Coral was also a clownfish but only featured at the beginning of the film before being killed by a barracuda
. The film did not show that if this occurred in real life, Marlin would have changed sex to become the dominant female of the anemone. Coral should also have been bigger in size than Marlin.
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish. It is very closely related to A. percula, the Orange Clownfish or "True Percula Clownfish", and often lives in association with the sea anemone
Sea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
Heteractis magnifica
Heteractis magnifica
Heteractis magnifica, also known by the common names magnificent sea anemone or Ritteri anemone, is a species of sea anemone that lives in the Indo-Pacific area, and can grow up to 1 metre in diameter in the wild. It can be kept in aquaria but is considered one of the most challenging species...
, using them for shelter and protection. Generally, Ocellaris clownfish are hardier, and slightly less aggressive than its Percula counterpart. Both species are found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Fiji and Tonga regions.
Description
This clown anemonefish can be recognised by its orange colour with three white bars and black markings on the fins. It grows to about eight centimeters (three inches) in length. One can differentiate between Percula (true) and Ocellaris (false) by their respective colors and patterns. Ocellaris are usually less vibrantly colored, and have 11 dorsal fin-spines instead of 10, as on the Percula. Also, the species have different eye arrangements: Percula have bright orange irises, making their eyes appear smaller, whereas Ocellaris have grey/orange irises which make the species eyes appear bigger.There is a rare melanistic variety
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
hailing from the reefs around Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, that is a darker color with the normal white stripes. Although not common in the wild, they are becoming more and more popular in the aquarium hobby.
Phylogeny
The species Amphiprion ocellaris belongs to the class Osteichthyes which contains bony fish and ray-finned fish. A. ocellaris is the most basal species in the genus Amphiprion which is closely related to the genera Premnas. The species' most closely related ancestor is Amphiprion percula, the Orange Clownfish. It is thought that A. ocellaris specialized after diverging from the Premnas genus, and scientific evidence confirms that all clownfish belonging to the genus Amphiprion could withstand the stings of only one type of anemone, after further diverging the 28 different species of clownfish including A. ocellaris specialized to be able to resist the poisonous stings of many different species. also clown fish are really important to coralAnalogous structures
Homologous structures
Popular culture
The 2003 Disney/PixarPixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
film, Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is a 2003 American comi-drama animated film written by Andrew Stanton, directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich and produced by Pixar. It tells the story of the overly protective clownfish Marlin who, along with a regal tang called Dory , searches for his abducted son Nemo...
featured the clown fish duo, Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould
Alexander Gould
Alexander Jerome Gould is an American television actor and voice artist. He is best known for his role as Shane Botwin on the Showtime TV series Weeds and for having provided the voice of Nemo in Pixar's Finding Nemo....
) a juvenile clownfish, the title character/Marlin's son, and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks
Albert Lawrence Brooks is an American actor, voice actor, writer, comedian and director. He received an Academy Award nomination in 1987 for his role in Broadcast News...
) as Nemo's overprotective father. Nemo's mother, Coral was also a clownfish but only featured at the beginning of the film before being killed by a barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
. The film did not show that if this occurred in real life, Marlin would have changed sex to become the dominant female of the anemone. Coral should also have been bigger in size than Marlin.
External links
- Aquaticdatabase entry for Amphiprion ocellaris (Ocellaris Clownfish).
- Photo Gallery of Amphiprion ocellaris and their eggs (ger.)
- Aquarium Wiki care information on Amphiprion ocellaris