These famous little fish change sex several times during their lifetime from asexual to male to female. Yes everyone, Nemo was a sex-changer.
You might have heard that some fish change sex. In fact, around 25% of tropical reef species do, including the Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) of Finding Nemo fame. These little fish live among the poisonous tentacles of sea anemones and can change sex twice in their lifetime — from asexual juvenile to male, and from male to female.
For Orange Clownfish, size confers dominance – bigger is better. And as females are bigger than males, they’re also more dominant. A single female and male form a cosy monogamous straight relationship (don’t worry, it won’t last forever) and live together in their poisonous anemone along with some various sized asexual juveniles who float in on the current.
If the female dies or leaves (or like in the movie, gets eaten by a barracuda), the male starts to buff up, put on weight and changes sex to female. That same fish then becomes the new female of the anemone and one of the juveniles sexually matures and becomes a male to take her place.
So, you know, in the realistic version of the movie, Nemo’s mum got eaten, Nemo’s dad became his new mum and agender Nemo transitioned to male and married her. Really, I can’t imagine why they changed it.
Read more about gay animals in our Queer Animals and Plants colouring books
Lesbian lizards, gay giraffes, bisexual red deer and sex-changing clownfish. This colouring book celebrates the diversity of animals. We explore some of the ways in which our beautiful queer communities exist far beyond the realms of human culture.
Asexual dandelions, sex-changing willows, boundary-smashing lichens and a fungus with over 20,000 sexes (kind of).
This colouring book celebrates the beautiful queerness that exists even in the places we least expect.
Can animals be gay? Can plants be queer? Of course!
This coloring book celebrates the diversity of animals, plants, fungi, lichen, and coral. We explore some of the ways our beautiful queer communities exist far beyond the realms of human culture.
Bring your brightest colors to learn about and befriend some of the most colorful characters in nature. This entertaining and educational resource was created by trans author and ecologist Kes Otter Lieffe. This book is richly illustrated by Anja Van Geert.
The perfect gift for all your friends who love queer animals and plants!