We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

Why Are There So Many Male Clownfish?

Published: Jan 07, 2020
Views: 1,376
Share

Male clownfish can never throw a bachelor party. If a group of clownfish, also known by the scientific name Amphiprion percula, find themselves without a female, one of the males -- the largest of the group -- changes into one. This astonishing transformation was discovered by Cornell University researcher Dr. Peter Buston, who collected a small group of the fish and removed the lone female. Not only did he watch as the largest male changed his sex, but he also discovered why there is very little conflict among the fish. It turns out that clownfish have a very hierarchical society, and the largest clownfish is always a breeding female. Next in size is the breeding male, who is followed by other non-breeding males. When the female was removed, the male breeder became the female breeder, and the next-largest male became the male breeder. The other fish grew in size accordingly. This pattern guarantees that fighting for dominance has no place in the clownfish kingdom, Buston said. Although clownfish live all over the world, Buston focused on those living on a coral reef in Papua New Guinea.

Close-up of the clownfish:

  • Technically speaking, Nemo's father in the popular movie Finding Nemo should have turned into a female after Nemo's mom died.
  • Clownfish and sea anemones work together in habitats, with the fish removing parasites and the anemones providing shelter.
  • While a clownfish's diet is mostly algae and zooplankton, they can also eat other animals, like worms and small crustaceans.
Share

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/why-are-there-so-many-male-clownfish.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.