Spine-cheeked anemonefish Jul. 2, 2025

Spine-cheeked anemonefish

That bright fish hiding in the anemone? That"s the spine-cheeked anemonefish, or the maroon clownfish, and it is not just a cute creature. Native to the Indo-Pacific, from western Indonesia to Taiwan and the Great Barrier Reef, this species lives on the edges of coral reefs. This fish is easily distinguished by the spine extending from each cheek—hence the name. Groups of spine-cheeked anemonefish form around a single dominant female, and if she disappears, the top male steps up—literally changing sex to take her place. It thrives in warm, shallow waters and sticks close to its chosen sea anemone.

© Fred Bavendam/Nature Picture Library

palette

Today in History

Were halfway there
We’ve made it to Halfway Day!
Jul. 2, 2024Italica, an old Roman city in Santiponce, Andalusia, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Commemorating Indigenous Peoples
The beauty that lies below
Nov. 3, 2024International Day for Biosphere Reserves
Jun. 24, 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
A kiss and a sigh
Where we go to play
May 6, 2024The Roaches ridge in the Peak District, England
Jan. 14, 2024Whooper swans
Nov. 12, 2023Diwali
Is a hug really that magical?
Jun. 3, 2024World Bicycle Day
Jul. 28, 2025World Nature Conservation Day
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Nov. 27, 2023Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
Sep. 11, 2024Red fox mother kissing her baby
Pearl among the emeralds
Oct. 16, 2025Eurasian lynx
9,000-year-old handprints
Jan. 24, 2024Diamond Beach, Iceland
Jul. 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic
Apr. 15, 2024World Art Day
Nov. 8, 2023West Indian manatees, Crystal River
Feb. 18, 2024World Whale Day
Aug. 28, 2023Dubrovnik, Croatia
Gravity-defying wonders of the world
Feb. 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Apr. 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Sep. 18, 2024Gujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Hop into Lunar New Year
Aug. 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean