Which animal lives in a deadly house?

One of the loveliest and most deadly groups of animals in a coral reef is that of the colourful anemonen.

Anemones may look like bright flowers on the ocean floor (they actually get their name from their resemblance to a flower called an anemone), but they are actualy animals closely related to jellyfish. Each of those waving tentacles is filled with tiny needle-like stingers that can deliver a deadly dose of venom to a passing fish. Once the fish is stung into submission, the anemone wraps its tentacles around its prey and consumes it.

But there’s one fish that doesn’t fear the anemone’s deadly sting. In fact, it lives in harmony with the anemone. That fish is the tiny clownfish.

Clownfish are immune to the stings of anemones, partly due to the coating of mucus around their bodies. The clownfish live in anemones and are protected from predators by the anenome’s tentacles. The fish are also useful to the anemone because the eat undigested food that might harm the anemone, and nutrients from the clownfishes’ poop helps nourish the anemone.

One amazing thing about clownfish is that they are born male! They live in groups consisting of a breeding couple and several young males. When the dominant female dies, the dominant male changes sex and becomes female to take her place!