Clownfish

1
Sea Anemone
Clownfish
Butterflyfish
Clownfish live sea anemones tentacles. These
tentacles sting fish that try to eat the
clownfish, keeping the clownfish safe!
The Butterfly Fish eats sea anemones.
The clownfish protects the sea anemone from being
eaten by the Butterfly Fish. It gets some food
the clownfish drops while eating.
Cleaner Shrimp
Angelfish
Cleaner Shrimp
The cleaner shrimp uses the anemone for
protection.
The cleaner shrimp eats particles (sometimes
parasites) off the Angelfish and other fish.
The angelfish is kept free of parasites by the
cleaner shrimp.
2
Sea Anemone
Anemone
Anemone
Anemones are food for many fish including the
Butterfly Fish.
Provides a safe place for cleaner shrimp to live.
Anemones use the coral to live on.
Coral Reef
Fish
Isopod
Any reef fish may become the host to isopods,
which use them for nutrients.
Corals provide housing for many creatures
including anemones.
The isopod uses fish for nutrients.
3
Coral Reefs
Coral
Grouper
Many coral survive because they have
zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae turn sunlight into
food for themselves and for coral. Zooxanthellae
need sunlight so reef corals need to be near the
surface in clear water.
Groupers are eaten by sharks.
People hunt fish in reefs, they collect small
fish for aquariums and they break off pieces of
coral for collections.
Sea Grouper
Reef Shark
Zooxanthellae
Sharks near a reef eat large fish like groupers.
Tiny plant cells called zooxanthellae live within
most types of coral polyps. The coral polyps
provide the cells with a protected environment
and the nutrients they need to carry out
photosynthesis.
Groupers eat other fish including Butterfly fish.
4
Butterfly Fish
People
Butterfly Fish as juveniles are food for many
larger fish such as grouper.
Humans hunt fish in reefs, they collect small
fish for aquariums and they break off pieces of
coral for collections.