Tonga/Vava‘u: Clownfish
Once you find Nemo (aka anemone clownfish), you can watch them for hours – protecting and swimming around their anemone homes. Clownfish and anemones share a unique symbiotic relationship – the clownfish find protection among the stinging tentacles of the anemone, which provides a safe habitat; while In return the clownfish defend the anemone from predators and bring it nutrients. This mutualistic bond benefits both species. Clownfish have a mucus layer on their skin that protects them from the stinging cells of the anemone. Additionally, the clownfish benefit from the anemone’s food scraps, as anemones catch prey with their tentacles. Clownfish also play a role in attracting prey for the anemone.l – their movements and bright colors lure small fish into the anemone’s tentacles. Finally, Furthermore, the bond between clownfish and anemones is so strong that if the clownfish is removed from its anemone home, they get depressed and often die.
