Percula Clownfish - Development

Development

The development of the A. Percula happens relatively fast. After the eggs are fertilized, they are ready to hatch after about six to seven days. After hatching, the larval are very small and are transparent except for the eyes, yolk sac, and a few colors across the body. The larva then sinks to the benthic environment but then swims to the upper water column. The larva spends about a week floating among plankton and is transported by ocean currents. The larval stage ends when the A. Percula settles to the bottom of the ocean. The process from larval stages to juvenile takes approximately one day. There is a rapid development of color during the A. Percula's juvenile stage. During the juvenile stage the anemonefish has to find a suitable anemone host. Specific chemical components are used when finding their host. These chemical cues are different for each anemonefish. This causes preferential selection when finding their anemone host species. When the A. Percula comes in contact with the anemone it produces a protective mucous coat. This mucous coat is developed with multiple interactions with the host anemone. The A. Perculas dances around the anemone, touching its fins first to the tentacles and then its entire body during its first interaction with the anemone. This process could take a few minutes or up to several hours. If the A. Percula does not continue to come in contact with the host anemone the protective mucous covering may disappear. The A. Percula belongs to a group of fishes that are not stung by the nematocysts of the anemone. If the A. Percula did not have the protective mucous covering then they would be stung by the anemone. Other fish species that do not have the mucous covering are consumed by the anemone.