Scary clowns: adaptive function of anemonefish coloration.

摘要: Clownfishes, with their showy coloration, are well known for symbiosis sea anemones and hierarchical reproductive system, but the function of coloration is unclear. We used a phylogeny 27 clownfish species to test whether fish (i) serves protective that involves anemone hosts, or (ii) signals identity in overlapping host ranges can potentially share same host. tested an association between colour pattern traits, morphology toxicity examined relation sharing geographic proximity. Fish fewer stripes occupied species, hosts shorter tentacles, than multiple stripes. There was negative relationship tentacle length these traits together were correlated evolution Host range overlap not associated divergence. propose ancestral anemonefishes had served hiding/camouflage among hosts' long whereas increased specialization towards more toxic (with tentacles) led use as aposematic signal. The intriguing notion signal could advertise defence another may reflect unique symbiotic hosts.