most people have become more aware of the bright little fish due to Disney's "Finding Nemo" (which I love), so I figured, why not talk about them a bit.
Clownfish seem to be most known for their bright orange color, and white bands, though some clown fish are actually yellow, or black in color, and some of them don't have as many white bands, depending on the species.
The other most known fact is that clownfish form a kind of symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. Studies have shown that the mucus coating on the fish is actually what proves to be the biggest buffer against the poison of the anemones, though there is also suggestion that constant contact actually creates a semi immunity. I say semi, because the toxins, without the mucus coating, can still prove lethal to the fish.
Now for some stuff that maybe you DIDN'T know... because it's pretty cool. Mostly my comment about being the hermaphrodite of the marine world. You see. All clownfish are born male, and later some MAY become female. There's actually a hierarchy to how it works.
Clownfish will usually live in a group of two or more. The largest, most aggressive clownfish will be the female. The second largest will be the mating male... and all the others will be non mating males, they're pretty much neuters until the time should arise where the female dies. THEN, the mating male will become the NEW female, the larges neuter male, will gain male reproductive organs and become the NEW mating male... and the rest will have to stay neuters until the new female dies.
Oh man... how can you say fish aren't awesome XD
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