The anemone and the clown fish

Bubble tip anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
Max. size: 40 cm

Clown Fish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Max. size: 11 cm

Geographical distribution:
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea

 

Biology:
Sea anemones form part of the branch of Cnidaria, like jellyfish and corals. 
They are large muscular polyps.  Their often colourful bodies consist of a hollow column which attaches itself to a hard surface using a disk-shaped foot. 
They capture their food with tentacles; digestion takes place in the column cavity. All non-digested matter is ejected via the mouth.

They are dangerous for fish but not all fish; in fact this is a perfect example of successful cohabitation: to escape from the anemone’s mortal tentacles, the clown fish coats itself with mucus, which protects it from danger.  The clown fish chases away fish that eat anemones and, in return, the anemone protects it from predators.

At the Saint-Malo Grand Aquarium, bubble tip anemones grow and reproduce by fission and foot laceration.

 

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