Fish · Omnivore · Coral reef
Ocellaris clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
The ocellaris clownfish lives among sea anemones on coral reefs. It is a sequential hermaphrodite: the largest fish in a group is typically female.
Interactive model
Characteristics
- 0.1–0.1 m (adult)
- ≈ 0.3–0.4 ft (adult)
- 0 kg (adult)
- ≈ 0 lb (adult)
- 6–10 years
- ≈ 6–10 years
Scale
Bars are proportional to a linear dimension (height or length). They are not mass. Human reference is 1.7 m.
- Ocellaris clownfish0.1 m
- 2 pence coin0 m
- Human hand0.2 m
- Average adult human1.7 m
Activity: Mostly diurnal
Taxonomy
Life stages
Larva
Pelagic larvae before settling to a reef.
Adult
Lives in a size-based social queue around an anemone.
Adaptations
Anemone mucus coat
A protective mucus layer reduces firing of host nematocysts, allowing the fish to shelter among tentacles.
Behaviour
Size-dominant hierarchy; if the female disappears, a breeding male may change sex.
Habitat and range
- Indian Ocean (native)
- Pacific Ocean (native)
Conservation
Least Concern
Population trend: Unknown
Assessment year 2021 (curated, not live).
- Reef degradation
- Aquarium harvest in some areas
Source: Amphiprion ocellaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Compare
Sources
- Amphiprion ocellaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — conservation
- Amphiprion ocellaris on Animal Diversity Web or equivalent secondary literature — measurement
- Amphiprion ocellaris on Animal Diversity Web or equivalent secondary literature — text
Photograph: Nick Hobgood, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA