Spine-cheeked anemonefish Jul 2, 2025

That bright fish hiding in the anemone? That"s the spine-cheeked anemonefish, also known as 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

Jul 2, 2024Italica, an old Roman city in Santiponce, Andalusia, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Jun 8, 2024Confluence of Easter Creek and Killik River, Alaska, USA
Oct 9, 2024Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
Jun 1, 2024Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Brazil
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Dec 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Apr 18, 2025Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Nov 13, 2024Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Apr 28, 2024El Capitan, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Sep 5, 2025Santa Monica Pier
Feb 20, 2024Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, UK
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Jun 30, 2024Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Aug 24, 2024Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, USA
Jun 9, 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
Mar 9, 2025St Marks Clock Tower, Venice, Italy
Mar 19, 2024Tree frog on leaf
Oct 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Jun 8, 2025Steller sea lions
Aug 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Oct 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
May 13, 2024Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Sep 21, 2025Sea otters, Alaska
Nov 9, 2023Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
Jan 27, 2025Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Sep 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Dec 9, 2024Two guanacos, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile