Clownfish attack their own kind! They don't like being alone

Research conducted by Japanese scientists has revealed that clownfish exhibit aggressive behavior toward their own kind. The study, which focused on clownfish—a group comprising approximately 30 species within the Pomacentridae family—specifically examined the species scientifically known as "Amphiprion ocellaris." This species gained popularity with the 2003 film "Finding Nemo."

According to the research reported by Independent Türkçe, young clownfish that had not previously encountered other species were placed in a water tank. This aquarium contained both the Amphiprion ocellaris species and other clownfish species. The study concluded that clownfish with three white vertical stripes displayed a more aggressive attitude toward fish of their own species.

Kina Hayashi, one of the scientists who conducted the research, stated that the Amphiprion ocellaris species can identify whether others are of the same species by counting the stripes on other clownfish. It was observed that they did not exhibit the same aggressive behavior toward clownfish that had no stripes or only a single stripe.

Hayashi explained, "This experiment showed that the number of white vertical stripes plays an important role in distinguishing the same species and deciding whether or not to attack." The results of the research were published in the scientific journal Journal of Experimental Biology on February 1.