Changeable clowns

Clownfish, or anemonefish (now commonly referred to as “Nemos,”) swim through what looks like waving wheat—actually the tentacles of their massive sea anemone home, moving with the water’s surge. A family group of these fish contains one adult female, one adult male, and juveniles, all of whom are males. If the female should die, the adult male transforms into a female, and one of the juveniles matures to take his place. This image and other coral reef images from the Red Sea are featured in the 2009 WHOI Wall Calendar, now available for purchase online at the WHOI Store. (Photo by Konrad Hughen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)