SCIENCE IN PICS: Damselfish in Sea Fan

Damselfish in a sea fan at Sangalaki in Kalimantan, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)
Damselfish mostly inhabit tropical coral reefs around the world and are almost all marine fish, except a few species that are found in freshwater in the lower parts of some rivers.

They are typically brightly colored and can reach to 14 inches (36 centimeters) in length. Both sexes look the same.

The males make nests and protect the developing eggs from predators. During this time, some species exhibit nuptial color patterns.

Damselfish may perform a variety of specialized ecological roles, such as as territorial algal farming, or planktivory. Some species in the Indo-Pacific live commensally with sea anemones, and are known as clownfishes or anemonefishes.

Clownfish are immune to their host's toxins, thus gaining protection from predators as well as feeding on leftover food from the anemone. The anemone also benefits from the relationship as its clownfish pick off parasites and also behave territorially, seeing off predators. It may also benefit from nutrients in the fish's excrement.

In this video, you can watch a shoal of sergeant major damselfish swimming on a reef. These large colorful damselfish are named for their stripes which resemble military insignia.

Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, In! donesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO's, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.

Matthew is on Twitter @matthewophoto. More of his photos can be found at matthew-oldfield-photography.com

Please send feedback to qa.science@epochtimes.com




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