Clownfish / Sea Anemone Friends

Sea anemones attach themselves to rocks and coral, such as in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They have tentacles which contain nematocysts, stinging cells that paralyze marine animals. Sea anemones use their tentacles to capture marine animals and eat them. However, clownfish are not affected by the toxin. They coat their bodies with their own mucus, and for some mysterious reason, this keeps the sea anemones from recognizing the clownfish as food. The clownfish then swim around the tentacles and use them as their own protection.