Clownfish those beautiful and color fish from the ocean that dance around in sea anemones. The most popular of Clownfish found in local pet stores would have to be Amphiprion ocellaris known as the Clown anemonefish. These marine fish are extremely hardy and very fun to watch. This genus of saltwater fish was popularized by the movie Finding Nemo so this fish is easily identified by young children. Talk about branding a species of fish for a young audience.

 

Clownfish are also called anemonefish because of their relationship with which is commonly called a symbiotic relationship or mutualism with sea anemones. There are some thirty species of Amphiprion and one in the genus Premnas. The sea anemones provide clownfish with many benefits namely protection from predators and a source for finding scraps of food left from anemone’s meals. Interestingly the clownfish provide nutrients from excrement from clownfish. Clowns are also said to protect sea anemones from parasites and its predators. 

 

But while there are some thirty species of clownfish a new related genus Premnas brings another beautiful marine fish, Premnas biaculeatus the maroon clownfish. This species is endemic to the Indo-Pacific from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef. Some of its nicknames include maroon anemonefish and the spine-cheeked clownfish. However there has been an introduction to a spectacular species referred to as the PNG lightning maroon clownfish which was collected from Fishermans Island by local fisherman. This is located off the capital city of Papua New Guinea. This has to be the most stunning clownfish in the world or at least known. They are apparently being bred in the United States and you can read all about the Lightning Project here. These fantastic fish can be purchased from Blue Zoo Aquatics which handles one of the rarest fishes of marine fish.