Clown Fish

Clown Fish

Clown Fish
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 3 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	8.31

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		aspect, benefits, hence, mucus, ordinary, relationship, residence, solution, species, strategy, predator, dread, underwater, bold, layer, behavior
	content words:		Pacific Ocean, Great Barrier Reef, Indian Ocean, Red Sea

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Clown Fish

¹     Clown fish are bold, because they dare to live in places where most marine animals dread to go near. Indeed, their choice of residence -- anemone (or sea anemone) -- is a plant-like, immobile, underwater creature that snatches a passerby with its waving, poisonous tentacles! Yet, clown fish don't seem to mind the danger, and the anemone they co-habit with appears to enjoy their company as well. Though the living arrangement clown fish and anemones establish is out of ordinary, it benefits both animals in several ways.

²     On the part of clown fish (or anemone fish), they know how frightened other fishes are of anemones' toxic tentacles. Hence, they capitalize on that fear by being anemones' roommates. Surely, no fish can be that hungry to chase a clown fish all the way to its dangerous dwelling. Nevertheless, if the predator continues the pursuit, it will quickly regret its decision -- instead of being a hunter, the fish becomes a fallen prey of the clown fish's protector! Of course, the clown fish will never make a pact with the anemone if it doesn't have means to fend off its host's venomous stings. So, how can it avoid getting stung by the anemone? Well, it turns out that the clown fish has a special layer of mucus on its skin. Miraculously, this layer of mucus gives it immunity.

³     In addition to the "Please protect me, and I will bring you food!" reason, there are other factors that bring the clown fish and the anemone together. For example, the clown fish eats leftover bits that the anemone discards. In return, the anemone receives a free cleaning service.

Paragraphs 4 to 6:
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