Spine-cheeked anemonefish in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea Jul 2, 2025

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. It 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. Spine-cheeked anemonefish thrive in warm, shallow waters and stick close to their chosen sea anemone.

© Fred Bavendam/Nature Picture Library

palette

Today in History

Jul 2, 2018Keep watching the skies
Jul 2, 2019Sequential images of a total solar eclipse
Jul 2, 2020All Rhodes lead to the beach
Jul 2, 2021A meerkat stands alone
Jul 2, 2022Halfway Day
Jul 2, 2023Its Halfway Day!
Jul 2, 2024The ruins of Italica, Andalusia, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 1, 2021It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Aug 22, 2024Ocean City, Maryland, at sunrise
Mar 5, 2020The desert blooms
Jul 5, 2019Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
Jul 30, 2025International Day of Friendship
Aug 14, 2025Cable car station, Graubünden, Switzerland
Feb 9, 2023Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
May 7, 2023World Laughter Day
Dec 24, 2022Christmas Eve
Nov 25, 2024Masai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Sep 26, 2022Autumn in Alaska
Mar 13, 2018Wayag Islands in the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia
Sep 5, 2021Venice s grand regatta
Feb 13, 2023El Valle de la Luna, Chile
Apr 7, 2022Málaga, Spain
Apr 25, 2020Rockin with the rockhoppers
Jul 13, 2019Batten down the hatches
Apr 4, 2018Mexican giant cardon cactus
Dec 22, 2021Illuminating Annecy
Oct 21, 2022Bald cypress trees in Georgia
Mar 14, 2024Happy Pi Day!
Aug 28, 2024Paralympic Games begin in Paris
Jul 1, 2022Tour de France
Mar 1, 2018Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dec 3, 2021Frost on autumn leaves
Oct 26, 2018A notorious gunfight that was incorrectly named
Jul 31, 2025Ring-tailed lemur
May 15, 2020The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
May 2, 2020Morocco in bloom
Mar 10, 2020A festival of colors