Clownfish

Clownfish’s incredible show of strength

In an incredible feat of strength and problem solving, saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus)
have been filmed working together to move objects across the sea floor for the very first time.

This remarkable behaviour was captured on camera by the Blue Planet II crew
and the footage is being utilised in a scientific study.

“What was really cool about this sequence is that clownfish are such a well-known animal that I hope the behaviour
comes as a complete surprise” says cameraman Roger Munns.

“It really was amazing to see such a small fish move such a big object relative to its size,” he adds.

Like many species of clownfish, the saddleback lays its eggs on hard objects.

While other clownfish find suitable locations (such as shells) on the seabed or reefs where they live, things aren’t quite so simple for the saddleback.

Saddlebacks make their home amongst the venomous tentacles of the ‘carpet anemone’ (Stichodactyla gigantea).

Immune to their sting, it shelters them from predators, but also means they live out their lives in the open sand,
away from the reef and its readily-available egg-laying surfaces.

With no hard surfaces close by, the saddleback resort to using their initiative.

Using all their strength they are able to push objects up to 10 times their own weight, it’s thought to a distance of two metres.

An incredible feat for a tiny fish. Once home, they tuck the object under the safe haven of the carpet anemone.

Though they often select shells and rocks,
the clownfish filmed for Blue Planet II shift a large coconut shell across the sand before laying their eggs on its surface.

Source: BBC Earth