In a groundbreaking discovery, clownfish have been found to shrink their bodies to survive ocean heat waves, a direct response to climate change. This remarkable adaptation was revealed in a study published in *Science Advances*, highlighting the resilience of marine life.
Researchers from Newcastle University, Boston University, and the Mahonia Na Dari Conservation and Research Centre in Papua New Guinea, monitored clownfish in Kimbe Bay during a 2023 heat wave. They observed that many clownfish reduced their size, with some shrinking by up to 2 millimeters. This size reduction significantly increased their survival rate.
Scientists believe the clownfish may reabsorb bone material to reduce metabolic demands. Breeding pairs often shrank together, maintaining social structures. This behavior, though previously seen in other species, is a first for coral reef fish, underscoring the need to understand adaptive behaviors to mitigate climate change impacts.