Overview

• A study conducted in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, documented 101 out of 134 clownfish shrinking during a marine heatwave in 2023.
• Shrinking increased individual clownfish survival rates by up to 78%, marking the first evidence of this adaptation in coral reef fish.
• Breeding pairs that synchronized their shrinkage were more likely to survive, highlighting the role of social coordination in resilience.
• Researchers hypothesize that clownfish may shrink by reabsorbing bone, similar to marine iguanas, though the exact mechanism remains unknown.
• The shrinkage is reversible, with clownfish regrowing to their original size when environmental conditions improve.