Clownfish

Clownfish live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones – they are

adapted to be immune to the tentacles. These tentacles

sting fish that try to eat the clownfish, keeping the

clownfish safe!

Sea Anemone

The anemone is protected from being eaten by the

Butterfly Fish by the clownfish. It also gets some

food particles while the clownfish is eating, and the clownfish attracts prey for

the anemone.

Butterflyfish

The Butterfly Fish eats sea anemones.

Cleaner Shrimp

The cleaner shrimp eats particles (sometimes

parasites) off the Angelfish and other

fish.

Angelfish

The angelfish is kept free of parasites by the cleaner shrimp.

Cleaner Shrimp

The cleaner shrimp uses the anemone for

protection.

Anemone

Provides a safe place for cleaner shrimp to live.

Sea Anemone

Anemones are food for many fish including the Butterfly

Fish.

Anemone

Anemones use the coral as a substrate

to live on.

Fish

Any reef fish may become the host to isopods, which use them for nutrients.

Coral Reef

Corals provide “housing” for many creatures

including anemones.

Isopod

The isopod uses fish for nutrients.

Coral Coral Reefs

Many coral can survive because they have

zooxanthellae to provide the coral with food resulting

from photosynthesis. Because of the

zooxanthellae’s dependence on light, reef corals require

clear water.

Grouper

Sea Grouper

Groupers eat other fish including Butterfly

fish.

Reef Shark

Sharks near a reef rely on large fish like groupers

for their nutrition.

Zooxanthellae

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 can range from about a foot long

to over a meter. Sharks are one of the few sea creatures they

need to worry about eating them!

People hunt fish in reefs, they collect small fish for aquariums and they break

off pieces of coral for collections.

Butterfly Fish as juveniles are food for many larger fish

such as grouper.

Butterfly Fish People

Humans hunt fish in reefs, they collect small fish for

aquariums and they break off pieces of coral for collections.