We see so many anemonefish (clown fish) in Bunaken that it is hard to remember all of their names. Usually, we just say “we saw Nemo or his cousin”, but all the Bunaken anemone fish like clowning around!
There are actually 28 different species of anemonefish in the ocean and they can have slight color variations in different parts of the world. Their common names can also be different depending on what book you look in, what area you are in and who you talk to. No matter how many names a fish might have the scientific name is always the same.
The Scientific name of the fish in the featured photo is Amphiprion melanopus but the common names include ‘red and black anemonefish’, ‘cinnamon clownfish’, ‘black backed anemonefish’, ‘dusky anemonefish’, and ‘fire clownfish’. The genus name in this fish is melanopus which means black feet in Greek, this is because the pelvic fin on the fish is black. This particular species can be found on reefs all across the southern and western parts of the Pacific ocean.
Anemonefish are always found on or next to their anemone home so you would be unlikely to see a homeless or lost anemone fish like Nemo. Anemonefish have a hierarchy arrangement within their anemone where the largest fish in the group is the dominant female who lays the eggs. The next biggest is the breeding male who fertilizes and looks after the eggs while they develop. The rest of the fish do not breed and are in lower ranks in the hierarchy. If the female dies the biggest male turns into the dominant female and the next biggest male becomes the breeding male.
Like corals, anemones have a similar relationship with the algae Zooxanthellae and can suffer from bleaching events from water temperature changes, acidification, and the aquarium industry. They are also affected by plastic. There is research being done about how microplastics are affecting coral reefs and studies of anemones to see what they mistake for food and how it affects their biology. Microfibers are coming from maritime equipment, like nets and ropes, that is breaking down, as well as entering the environment from washing synthetic clothing. The microplastics are appearing in many things like seafood, fish, birds and are a worldwide problem.
In Bunaken, we usually see more than one species of anemonefish on every dive. Barbara, Marcus, Toshio, Yeonmi, Seon and Iris have been out fun diving this week and took some pictures of the playful Bunaken anemone fish clowning around. Kathryn and Richard saw so many fish from the surface whilst snorkeling with us. Kate, Michael, and Alix have finished their
PADI Open Water Course with instructors Colin and Maia and Joshua and Matthieu finished their
PADI Advanced Open Water Course this week. Well done to everyone for achieving your goals! Everyone was pleased to see ‘Nemo’s cousin’ on their training and fun dives near
Two Fish Divers and some were lucky enough to spot the real Nemo which is scientifically named
Amphiprion ocellaris.