14 DAY TRIAL // Only yesterday, the journal PLOS ONE witnessed the publication of a new study stating that, as far as clownfish are concerned, “talking” serves two purposes alone: establishing and defending their social status.
Apparently, clownfish have a highly organized social life, meaning that they live in groups of which only one male and one female reach sexual maturity and are allowed to breed.
Thus, the rest are simply gender neutral, Science News explains.
The female is the largest of the group, and the male follows closely behind it as far as size is concerned.
The researchers who have studied how clownfish behave towards each other while in these social groups have found that the sounds they make serve either to “bully” other specimens, or to show submission.
In other words, clownfish never use sound to attract mates, but only to keep or up their social status should something happen to the dominant pair.