Clownfish Development opus 839
| 10 May 2026 1040 Hours | | Evolution, Biology, Environment, Ichthyology, Science, Zoology |
Human-caused Climate Change is causing
Animals change their behavior and body morphology.
Some bird species have developed larger beaks.
That helps them dispel excess body heat.
Migrating animals which move with changing seasons,
Have been reported to seek higher latitudes.
Clownfish have also responded to these changes,
By temporarily shrinking in response to heat stress.
Versteeg, a Ph.D. student at Newcastle University, states:
"It's usually assumed that growth is relatively one way,
So, it's favorable to be a bit bigger. And we've not really seen before
That they actually have this capacity or ability to shrink."
One hundred thirty-four clownfish were measured monthly
From Papua New Guinea reefs,
Along with water temperature during a marine heatwave.
The three inch Clownfish shrank with water temperature increase.
And those that did shrink increased their survival
By up to 78% from heat stress.
The shrinkage is about one or two percent of the body size,
Along with length reductions of only one and two millimeters.
A smaller size is thought to require less food,
Making the metabolism more efficient.
When the water temperature lowered, the fish grew again.