That bright fish hiding in the anemone? That"s the spine-cheeked anemonefish, or the maroon clownfish, and it is not just a cute creature. Native to the Indo-Pacific, from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef, this species lives on the edges of coral reefs. This fish is easily distinguished by the spine extending from each cheek—hence the name. Groups of spine-cheeked anemonefish form around a single dominant female, and if she disappears, the top male steps up—literally changing sex to take her place. It thrives in warm, shallow waters and sticks close to its chosen sea anemone.
Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Today in History
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Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
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Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site
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Stripes in sight
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International Jazz Day
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Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
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Old Rock Day
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A day for cousins of every stripe
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Aerial view of Ocean City, Maryland, USA
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Yosemite National Park, California, USA
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Young Peak, British Columbia
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European hedgehog
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Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
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A book lover’s paradise
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Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
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Up and away!
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Fragrant fields as far as the eye can see
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You might be a red-necked grebe if…
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A butterfly’s best friend
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
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Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
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Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California, United States
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