Clownfish, also known as anemonefish, are colorful, tropical members of the damselfish family. All are "obligate symbionts" with large sea anemones - they can survive and reproduce only when living under the protection of their host anemone. Clownfish gain "immunity" to an anemone’s powerful sting, by gradually exposing more of their bodies to the tentacles, until they have acquired a protective coating of the anemone’s own mucus. Typically, an anemone plays host to a single pair of adult fish, and a variable number of juveniles.
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