Clownfish and Anemone

Clownfish and Anemone

Clownfish survive in a mutually assistive symbiotic relationship with anemone.

The anemone protect the clownfish from predators and provide food scraps. In return, the clownfish uses its bright colours to lure fish into the anemone, where they are killed by the anemone’s poison and eaten.

Together, they are obligatory symbionts, which means that each species is highly dependent on the other for survival. Symbiosis between the two species is achieved in a variety of ways including a mutual protection from predators, an exchange of nutrients, and the clownfish’s tolerance of anemone nematocysts.

In order to live among the anemone, clownfish protect themselves from nematocyst strikes. Nematocysts are harpoon-like stingers on the anemone’s tentacles used to capture prey and ward off predators. While other fish approach the anemone as a potential food source, the clownfish doesn’t even try to eat the nutrient-rich tentacles. This avoids triggering an attack from the anemone.

• Entry: Single Artist
• Type of Work: Painting
• Format: Single Work
• Year Produced: 2022
• Technique / materials: Chinese Gongbi and Xieyi(freehand) styles with chinese ink and pigments
• Support: On cooked (treatedl Rice paper
• Size of work in mm: 470 | 330 | 1

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