Orange skunk clownfish
Description[edit source | edit]
The Orange skunk clownfishis a small sized fish which grows up to 14 centimetres (5.5 in). Its body has a stock appearance, oval shape, compressed laterally and with a round profile. Its coloration is very bright orange, with a white stripe on the dorsal ridge from the superior lip, passing between the eyes and ending at the caudal fin base. All the fins have the same coloration as the body except the dorsal fin which is partially white. Its iris is bright yellow.
Distribution[edit source | edit]
Habitat[edit source | edit]
The Amphiprion sandaracinos typically lives in small groups on outer reef slopes or in lagoons at a maximal depth of 20 metres (66 ft). It inhabits in association with two different species of sea anemones. It's often observed in Stichodactyla mertensii and rarely in Heteractis crispa.
Feeding[edit source | edit]
Behaviour[edit source | edit]
Amphiprion sandaracinos has a diurnal activity. It is protrandous hermaphrodite, which means the male can evolved to female during his life, and lives in harem in which an established dominance hierarchy manages the group and keeps individuals at a specific social rank. It has also an aggressive territorial behaviour and it's completely dependant from its sea anemone which represents its "life insurance" as a safe shelter for the group and for the nest.
The associative relationship that binds the clownfish and the sea anemone is called mutualism.In one hand, the fish can lives within the sea anemone's tentacles and uses it as a shelter because it has developed a fin layer of mucus which covers its body as a protection against the stinging anemone's tentacles. On the other hand, the presence of the clownfish can be interpreted as a lure to attract potential anemone's preys close to the tentacles. And the clownfish can also defend the anemone against some reef fishes which could eat the tentacles like.
In aquaria[edit source | edit]
References[edit source | edit]
- Lieske & Myers,Coral reef fishes,Princeton University Press, 2009, ISBN 9780691089959
- Fautin & Dr Allen ’’Field guide to anemonefishes and their host sea anemones’’, Western Australian Museum,1992, ISBN 9781564651181