Depending on the species, anemonefish are overall yellow, orange, or a reddish or blackish color, and many show white bars or patches.

[8] Studies on anemonefish have found that they alter the flow of water around sea anemone tentacles by certain behaviors and movements such as "wedging" and "switching".

Bleaching of the host can cause a short-term increase in the metabolic rate of resident anemonefish, probably as a result of acute stress.

[10] Over time, however, there appears to be a down-regulation of metabolism and a reduced growth rate for fish associated with bleached anemones.

These effects may stem from reduced food availability (e.g. anemone waste products, symbiotic algae) for the anemonefish.

Clownfish live in a hierarchy, like hyenas, except smaller and based on size not sex, and order of joining/birth.

[citation needed] Anemonefish lay eggs on any flat surface close to their host anemones.

[18] Although multiple males cohabit an environment with a single female, polygamy does not occur and only the adult pair exhibits reproductive behavior.

[19] The existence of protandry in anemonefish may rest on the case that nonbreeders modulate their phenotype in a way that causes breeders to tolerate them.

For example, by purposefully modifying their growth rate to remain small and submissive, the juveniles in a colony present no threat to the fitness of the adult male, thereby protecting themselves from being evicted by the dominant fish.

Namely, the stronger currents and greater water volume during high tide protect the hatchlings by effectively sweeping them to safety.

In contrast to most animal species, the female only occasionally takes responsibility for the eggs, with males expending most of the time and effort.

Clownfish follow the ensuing order in their fin development "Pectorals < caudal < dorsal = anal < pelvic".

[2] These features have been used to group species into six complexes: percula, tomato, skunk, clarkii, saddleback, and maroon.

[24] Other significant differences are that A. latezonatus also has monospecific lineage, and A. nigripes is in the Indian clade rather than with A. akallopisos, the skunk anemonefish.

[25] A. latezonatus is more closely related to A. percula and Premnas biaculeatus than to the saddleback fish with which it was previously grouped.

[32] Public aquaria and captive-breeding programs are essential to sustain their trade as marine ornamentals, and has recently become economically feasible.

Designer Clownfish, scientifically named A. ocellaris are much costlier and obtaining them has disrupted their coral reefs.