The Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula), is part of the Pomacentridae family that includes clownfish and damselfish. The A. percula is a small orange fish with three white bands. A. percula are found in tropical water like pacific and Indian oceans.
Morphology
This specific species has a distinctive black border separating the orange and white along with black tipped fins. The A. percula has a budge forward one the top of the head. The A. percula has around 30 to 38 pored scales covering its body. The dorsal fins of this fish has 9 to 10 spines.
Habitat
Clownfish are known for their very unique symbiotic relationship with anemones. The A. percula particularly reside near the shore and occupy a species of anemone called the Heteractis magnifica. The A.percula can also be found occupying Heteractis crispa and Stichodactyla gigantea. This unique relationship between the A.percula and anemone relies on symbiosis. This is an interaction between the two organisms in close physical contact, in this case mutualism. Mutualism is the interaction between two organism that beneifits both organisms. In this instance, the anemone protects and provides shelter for the clownfish from its predators. While clownfish provides the anemone with food and nutrients from waste and food left behind. One of the most important factors between the A. percula and the host anemone is the mucus on the skin of the A. percula protecting the fish from anemone toxin.
A. percula typically live in water between 25 and 28°C and does not reside in waters deeper than around 12 meters. A study done back in 2008 examined how olfactory cues affect small reef fishes habitat. The study concluded that A.percula have a strong preference in their habitat. More specifically, A. percula prefer water that is from islands rather than water from non island areas.
Diet
A.percula are foragers, meaning they go out in search of their food in nature. They consume a multitude of things including: algae, plankton, worms, and small crustaceans. They also can get food from the host anemone.
