Why do sea anemones protect clownfish?
Clownfish and anemones have what is called a symbiotic relationship. This means they live together and each provides something to the other. The clownfish helps keep the anemone clean by eating the debris that drift into it. The anemone protects the clownfish with its stinging tentacles. The anemone’s stinging cells don’t harm the clownfish because over time, the clownfish’s slime coat stores a chemical found in the anemone. This chemical is the same one that stops the anemone from stinging itself when two tenticles touch.
