"Nemo" clownfish drive away species with same stripes, study suggests

Unlike the star of Disney’s Finding Nemo, real-life common clownfish are not keen on sharing their home with members of their own species. Researchers say they have discovered how they kick unwelcome guests out, by counting the stranger’s vertical white markings. According to previous research, the sea anemones that house common clownfish can also be a temporary home for other species – provided they have horizontal stripes or no stripes at all. However, common clownfish do not tend to cohabit with fish that have vertical markings like their own, instead experiments have shown they are more aggressive towards fish models painted with such patterns.

tips

clouwn 小丑🤡

keen 热衷于

anemone 海葵

cohabit 同居

habit 习惯（habit- 住）

inhabit 居住于

aggressive 侵略的