Adapt or Die -

Adapt or Die

The Complicated Relationship Between the Clownfish and the Anemone

Article by Cathryn Castle Garcia, SDI Instructor

This article is a continuation of the Sentience in the Sea series, in which I discuss how anthropomorphism has helped me relate to the marine realm in a way that I find inspires me and enriches my diving. If you haven’t read those posts, I invite you to look them up here on the website (The Shrimp Goby and Blind Shrimp and Immerse Yourself). As a reminder, anthropomorphism is a big word used to describe the simple practice of assigning human characteristics or traits to non-humans, such as marine creatures or even inanimate objects like rivers or trees.

A word used to describe connecting humans to nature is biophilia, which is the notion that all human beings subconsciously seek connection with the rest of life, that there exists an innate human connection to nature. Some researchers consider this an evolutionary adaptation between humans and the biosphere. It makes sense that we’re meant to feel “at home” on our home planet. Likewise, sentience in marine animals makes sense to me, even if the scientific community is still debating it.

A Marine Meditation

Scuba diving is considered a recreational/sporting activity. It certainly gets “sporty” when we’re on high-adrenaline dives – exploring wrecks or encountering sharks or riding a ripping current along a wall. But in certain circumstances, scuba diving can be a meditation, when we’re enjoying being weightless underwater and puttering along a colorful coral reef, our exhaled breath creating a pleasing chorus of bubbles. Every single time I’m diving in the tropical Pacific, and I spot an anemonefish weaving through the tentacles of an anemone, I’m mesmerized. I’ve got thousands of anemonefish photos to prove my fascination. When I did a little research about the relationship between the anemone and the anemonefish commonly referred to as a clownfish – or by its first name, Nemo – I was amazed to learn it’s not as pretty and perfect as it looks in my photos. In fact, it’s complicated. This is why we chose the clownfish as the “poster fish” for adaptability in the book my husband and I wrote, titled, Ocean Metaphor: Unexpected Life Lessons from the Sea.

The Clownfish and Adaptability

The clownfish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, living on the coral reef amongst the tentacles of the sea anemone. This is a risky relationship, considering that the tentacles of the sea anemone are outfitted with tiny, toxin-filled barbs called nematocysts that could kill the clownfish if the anemone harpooned it. Lucky for the clownfish, it is born with a thick mucus layer – three to four times thicker than other fish – that protects against stings. The clownfish can even cleverly mix its own mucus with that of the anemone’s for increased protection.

Researchers identify this odd relationship between the clownfish and the anemone as a form of symbiosis, in which each party benefits. Living in this dangerous setting affords the clownfish a measure of safety against predators and it likely shares in the anemone’s catch. The clownfish, in turn, helps the anemone by cleaning it and by providing increased water circulation to the anemone by darting in and out of its tentacles. Researchers also suspect the clownfish might attract predators to the anemone, increasing its odds of catching a meal.

A Lesson

Even though the clownfish and the anemone share close quarters, their relationship isn’t easy, or without risk. Living outside the anemone’s embrace ups the odds of the clownfish being eaten by a predator. So, it adapts to life inside the anemone. The clownfish literally develops a thick skin to protect itself against the anemone’s stinging barbs.

Adaptability is the ability to change or be changed to fit changing circumstances. Our own relationships can require we adapt our behavior– with the demanding boss, the difficult neighbor or the demeaning family member – or the random jerk that cuts us off in traffic. The list of examples can go on and on. There are plenty of times when we must adapt by toughening our own hides to protect against the slings and arrows of haters.

Of course, the best practice is to avoid toxic relationships. When this isn’t an option, we can change the situation by changing our mindset. The next time you feel provoked by someone’s words or actions, think of the clownfish and its protective layer. Imagine yourself like the clownfish, protected by an invisible shield that the stinging barbs can’t penetrate. (Just imagine the shield isn’t made of mucus, because, gross.)

Don’t let the haters get you down. Remember the popular British saying, “Keep calm and carry on.” Or to borrow a phrase from Nemo’s friend Dory, from Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming.”

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