Anemonefish were already famous before Nemo, at least for underwater photographers. Their beauty does land them in aquariums more than almost any other fish species.
While they are often called 'clownfish', there is really just one, of the 30 species of anemonefish, called the clown anemonefish.
All 30 species have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with their host anemones. They are immune to the poisonous tentacles of the anemone, and it provides a safe place for them to call home. It also provides some of the wildest, most colorful backdrops for wildlife photography. Some of the anemones look like they are from a different world. It is no wonder that a lot of the inspiration for the Avatar movie came from underwater.
This first photo is of a skunk anemonefish near Puerto Galera, Philippines. All anemonefish are native to the Indian Ocean.
This last picture shows multiple symbiotic relationships. The skunk anemonefish and its host anemone, as well as the tiny cleaner shrimp near the eye of the fish.
Now you see why anemonefish continue to be one of my favorite underwater photo subjects.
-Dai Mar
https://www.daimarsphotos.com/Wildlife/Anemonefish/
