Behavior of the Pomacentrid Reef Fish Dascyllus albisella Gill in Relation to the Anemone Marcanthia cookei

Abstract

Fishes of the genus Dascyllus usually are identified as commensal with certain species of coral. However, the Hawaiian endemic, Dascyllus albisella, is occasionally found living with the anemone Marcanthia cookei. Aquarium observations show that juvenile fish have a characteristic behavior pattern by which they become acclimated to their anemone host. This behavior is not shown in the presence of their more common coral head host. The similarity between this behavior pattern and the behavior pattern by which the anemone fish Amphiprion percula develops an immunity to the nematocysts of its host shows the intimacy of the association.