Adaptation

As any organism evolves, it also evolves new adaptations. These adaptations are how the organism readjusts to the surrounding environment in which it inhabits. The main types of adaptation we focus on for the Amphiprion perideraion are ones that enhance form and function. A big adaptation for A. perideraion is its symbiosis with the giant sea anemone that the clownfish resides in (Murata et al., 1986).

                
The pink skunk clownfish appear to have chemicals that allow this symbiosis (Murata et al., 1986). This is one of the functions that A. perideraion does for protection. Not only is it protecting itself from the sting of the anemone by living in the anemone, it is protecting itself from other predators. Another way this marine fish protects itself is its swimming pattern. A. perideraion has distinct swimming patterns as well as prey search patterns (Coughlin et al., 1992). The pink skunk clownfish swims around in different variations to protect itself from predation of larger fish (Coughlin et al., 1992). Another reason for changing swimming pathways is for adequate food acquisition (Coughlin et al., 1992).

                                                   
When the clownfish does a local search for food, it will swim in patterns with a reduction in its speed (Jander, 1975). The search patterns will become more intense and complicated as the prey density increases (Coughlin et al., 1992). The patterns that are considered more complex for searching are ‘tangles, loping, intersecting paths without straight lines’ (Jander, 1975). When the fish does these types of patterns and speed reduction, they are maximizing the time spent in the area with higher concentrations of prey, and ultimately nutrients for them (Coughlin et al., 1992).
                                              
As Amphiprion perideraion grows from larval stage to adult form, its body size will naturally increase. There is not much insight on the lifespan of this type of clownfish, but it will reach the full growth expectancy a little after a year and a half (Fautin et al., 2010). It reaches a maximum length of 10 cm (Fautin et al., 2010). The female will ultimately be larger then the male (Hattori, 2000). In most forms of clownfish, the female will be larger then the male, to aid in the process of fertilization and egg carrying/laying (Hattori, 2000). As discussed in the reproduction page, A. perideraion will switch sexes to aid in reproduction (Hattori, 2000).

The pink skunk clownfish is a pinkish orange color, with a white stripe on its dorsal side from the head to the tail. With this coloration, they are distinct from other clownfish, while also maintaining species similarities, and are a vibrant color like many of the other marine organisms that live in an environment that is symbiotic with a sea anemone.

 

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