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
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
A kiss and a sigh
-
The Great Blue Hole, Belize
-
Cable car station on Piz Nair mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland
-
Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
-
Rainbow houses, Houten, Netherlands
-
From victory to festivity
-
Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
-
Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
-
The sun sets on the Valley of the Moon
-
International Day for Biological Diversity
-
Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
-
Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
-
Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
-
Canoeing in solitude
-
Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
-
Autumn equinox
-
Moon Day
-
Lake Superior, Thunder Bay, Ontario
-
Blue as far as the eye can see
-
Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
-
Go fly a kite!
-
Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
-
A butterfly’s best friend
-
Preserving Alaskas natural beauty
-
Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
-
Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, United States
-
Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
-
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
-
World Environment Day
-
Annas hummingbird
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

