Where does this come from, and can I check it?

The dominant male changes sex if the group breeding female dies. The figure is taken from Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a animals fact?

Yes. It sits on the Animals shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

All clownfish are born male and can change into females

The dominant male changes sex if the group breeding female dies.

Clownfish live in strict social hierarchies inside sea anemones, led by a single large breeding female and a smaller reproductive male. If the female dies or disappears, the dominant male experiences hormonal changes that permanently turn him into the new breeding female.

Where this comes from

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Tags: clownfish, ocean, fish

All clownfish are born male and can change into females: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: The dominant male changes sex if the group breeding female dies. The figure is taken from Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a animals fact?: Yes. It sits on the Animals shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.