Scientists Learn How Nemo Finds His Way Home

by ryanborja | August 26, 2008 at 05:09 pm

1264 views | 13 Recommendations | 41 comments

How does the orange clownfish - aka Nemo from the movie "Finding Nemo" - really find its way home?

It turns out the colorful saltwater fish can sniff for leaves that fall into the sea from rainforests growing on the islands near their coral reef homes.

After clownfish hatch from their eggs, they spend 10 to 12 days in the open sea, likely carried out by prevailing currents. But they then often return to the near-shore reefs where they were born. How these young fish know where to swim back to has been a mystery.

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Amy Judd

at 17:12 on August 26th, 2008

I have a new found respect for these fish... :)

ryanborja

at 17:14 on August 26th, 2008

Oh, yes indeed. Well, it looks like it was very slowly that scientists are discovering the diversity and inner workings behind every action and move by marine animals.

Emilio Lizardo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 17:23 on August 26th, 2008

ryanborja, I like this story. It's good stuff.

PlanMyGreen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:29 on August 26th, 2008

ryanborja, I like this story. It's good stuff. Now only if we can learn how to properly protect marine life.

Of course there is definately not a problem of a shortage of particular clownfish as many are tank bred and raised for aquarium show, and of course "Finding Nemo" sure didn't hurt their population.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 21:28 on August 26th, 2008

ryanborja, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rpshen

at 06:14 on August 27th, 2008

wow i'm impressed by these little guys.

MentalDinks

at 06:57 on August 27th, 2008

The close up of two Clown fish is an image I took recently of them hunting down food at The Deep Submarium - Hull, UK www.thedeep.co.uk

MentalDinks has contributed a photo to this story.

mark emerson

at 08:50 on August 27th, 2008

Picture taken at the Blue Reef Aquarium http://www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk/

mark emerson has contributed a photo to this story.

picsynel

at 08:50 on August 27th, 2008

This clownfish was spotted lurking at the aquarium in London Zoo. I shot him for my one year old daughter who loves the Nemo film. We are planning enlargin him to make a super poster for her bedroom.
By Helen Murray

picsynel has contributed a photo to this story.

andrewwinn

at 09:17 on August 27th, 2008

Photo by Jude Seymour.

These clownfish live at the Discovery Center, located at 301 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, N.C.

andrewwinn has contributed a photo to this story.

sucksex

at 09:40 on August 27th, 2008

dey r juzzz sooo cute...i like dese fish!

sucksex has contributed a photo to this story.

johnchristofcruz

at 09:52 on August 27th, 2008

Shot from Redang, Malaysia during my recent Dive.

johnchristofcruz has contributed a photo to this story.

Stephen Pierson

at 10:13 on August 27th, 2008

Maroon Clownfish.

Stephen Pierson has contributed a photo to this story.

Taramisu

at 11:19 on August 27th, 2008

The clownfish in my pic live at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA USA

nanoprobe67

at 11:27 on August 27th, 2008

My photo taken at Long Beach Aquarium in California in August 2008.

nanoprobe67 has contributed a photo to this story.

dweebikus

at 12:37 on August 27th, 2008

Photo credit: David Webb, one of my clowns sitting in my aquarium resting on a green star polyp coral.

dweebikus has contributed a photo to this story.