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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Ocean City, Maryland, USA
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National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC, United States
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World Migratory Bird Day
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The worlds most exclusive beach?
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Playa del Silencio, Spain
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International Archaeology Day
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Mountains of sand
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Lighting the world
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Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Earth Day
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National Poetry Day
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A warm hug in the icy north
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Vineyards above the Moselle River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
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Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
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Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
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Lighting up the Dolomites
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Fujian Tulou, China
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Vieste, Apulia, Italy
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Gaztelugatxe islet, Basque Country, Spain
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International Talk Like a Pirate Day
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Splendid leaf frog
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Burning the Clocks
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Secluded sands in Mexico
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Finding beauty in ruins
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Winter wonderland
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The bears and the bees…
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Time to make an impression
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Saint Davids Day
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Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California, United States