Reproduction

Reproduction is key to any organism’s existence. Through reproduction, the species DNA and genes are passed on. There are several ways in which an animal can reproduce, as well as conditions needed for the process to happen. Amphiprion perideraion have unique aspects to their reproductive strategies. Being a marine organism, they reproduce in the salt water. The waters they inhabit and the areas they are specifically attracted to are around 25 degrees Celsius (EOL, 2009). Having an increase of CO2 in the water where the clownfish breed and lay eggs is believed to increase reproduction activity (Miller et al., 2013).

Let us now take a look at these organisms, so we can spot them out if we see them when we go scuba diving! The male pink skunk clownfish have a faint orange band on their caudal fin, where the females do not (Hattori, 2000). It is all about size with A. perideraion. Only the larger of the species are breeders. If the largest female dies, then the largest male actually switches sexual state (becomes female) and then the next largest male becomes the main fertilizer for the new female (Hattori, 2000). Amphiprion perideraion are monogamous, so this means that two individual fish reproduce with each other other and not with multiple fish, even in their school (Hattori, 2000).

Spawning is when eggs are laid down by the female, and then fertilized by the male. A. periderion spawn, and the females usually lay their eggs in a rocky area or underside of the anemone, and depending on conditions this happens between April and August (Fautin et al., 2010). The pink skunk clownfish spawn more then once during this period, and can produce around 3000 eggs during the spawning times (Hattori, 2000). The eggs hatch in about a week, after which there is a planktonic period lasting around ten days, and then the juvenile fish begin their benthic life and become symbiotic with the anemone (Murato et al., 1986).
After the pink skunk clownfish have matured, they remain in small social groups consisting of the dominant male and female with other non-reproductive males that will switch sexes if necessary, and continue their interesting reproductive process (Fautin et al., 2010).

 

Back to Home                                                                                                      Continue to Interactions