Spine-cheeked anemonefish 2 Jul 2025

Spine-cheeked anemonefish

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.

© Fred Bavendam/Nature Picture Library

palette

Today in History

Were halfway there
Halfway there
2 Jul 2024Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

More Desktop Wallpapers:

7 Jul 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
3 Jul 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida, United States
Alpine grandeur
9 Mar 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
The other great barrier reef
Happy Boxing Day!
Shining city on the hill
This blue succulent has spirit
In a world of their own
14 Jun 2024Peggys Cove Lighthouse, Canada
6 May 2025An ultralight aircraft flying over the sands of Namibia
Stunning symmetry
The Old Bridge, reborn
3 Nov 2025World Jellyfish Day
Small but mighty
29 Nov 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Shark Awareness Day
1 Jan 2024Happy New Year!
22 Nov 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
5 Jun 2026World Environment Day
23 Jul 2025Vatican City, Rome, Italy
24 Jun 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, United States
20 May 2025World Bee Day
29 Dec 2025St Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye
A right royal tradition
3 Jun 2025World Bicycle Day
26 Jan 2024Big Garden Birdwatch
20 Sep 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
10 Nov 2023Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
28 Sep 2023World Maritime Day