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.
Spine-cheeked anemonefish in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
Today in History
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The Wall for Peace
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And you thought moths were boring
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The stylish Spanish shawl
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Hey, don t you guys have somewhere to be?
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Vieste, Apulia, Italy
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Here, fishy!
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Composite image of a lunar eclipse
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
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A universe underground
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St. Patricks Day in County Waterford, Ireland
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Happy Juneteenth!
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European fallow deer in England
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The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
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A long path to freedom
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Let s get lost
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Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina
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Reflections on the mighty Amazon
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The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
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What are these creatures?
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Here s looking at you
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Daylight saving time begins
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China s colorful terraced pools
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Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
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Look to the north sky tonight for the Perseids
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A glimpse of the Blue Forest
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Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
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Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
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3,000 years of history
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

