ABSTRACT
Anemonefishes are iconic coral reef fishes characterized by their orange, black, and white body patterns, and their symbiosis with anemones. Most anemonefish species can be found on well-lit shallow coral reefs where vision is used to find food, avoid predators, recognize family members and intruders, and navigate their habitat. To understand how anemonefishes see their world and how differences in visual systems drive species-specific behaviours, assessment at the molecular, anatomical, physiological, and behavioural levels is needed. In this chapter, an overview is given of anemonefish visual ecology noting that most of the current knowledge derives from two species, the Barrier Reef anemonefish Amphiprion akindynos and the false clown anemonefish, A. ocellaris. We begin by describing the underwater light environment anemonefishes experience. Next, we discuss the morphology of anemonefish eyes and the molecular basis for vision in these fishes. Finally, we highlight recent developments in the study of anemonefish vision and provide future research directions.
