Anemonefishes and their invertebrate hosts have delighted the western world since 1881 when the first captive specimens were kept in a tub of seawater. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that the intimate relationship of these tropical animals began to be known worldwide. With the advent of SCUBA diving and the establishment of commercial air routes to equatorial destinations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, pristine coral reefs became accessible to an increasing audience. Skin-diving tourists, sport divers, naturalists, and marine scientists have all helped contributed to underwater discoveries, among them the fascinating natural history of anemonefishes. Virtually all large public aquaria have at least one anemonefish display, and these animals have been at or near the top in aquarium fish sales for the past three decades, attesting to their tremendous popularity.
In view of this unprecedented public exposure to the fascinating relationship between sea anemones and fishes, we have written a book with needs at all levels, from teen-age aquarist to research scientist, in mind. Because of confusion in sea anemone taxonomy, previous works on this subject often used incorrect or outdated names. This book permits quick and accurate identification of the invertebrate hosts, as well as the fishes, through well-illustrated, easy-to-use keys and underwater photographs. It is the first publication on these animals designed as a field guide. We hope that it will add even greater pleasure to your fish-watching endeavors and provide new insights into the symbiotic relationship of fishes and sea anemones.
We are grateful to the Christensen Research Institute for making our long-held dream of writing this book come true.
Daphne G. Fautin
Gerald R. Allen