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🐟 All clownfish are born male, but the largest and most dominant individual becomes the female of the group. If she dies, the next largest male undergoes a permanent sex change and takes her place as the breeding female.This transformation is not just behavioral—it’s biological. The male’s reproductive organs shift, hormone levels change, and he becomes fully functional as a female. A smaller male then moves up in rank to become the new breeding male, and the cycle continues.This system ensures that the group always has a reproductive pair, maintaining stability in their symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, which protect them from predators. 📄 Reference📌 Helfman, G. S., Collette, B. B., Facey, D. E., & Bowen, B. W. (2009). The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology. Wiley-Blackwell.