Most of us know the unique world of the clownfsih hobbyists, fish geeks and marine biologists. But trying to explain what really would have happened to the lead fish in the animated movie “Finding Nemo” would be very incestuously creepy. Gizmodo shared this story broken down in the The Fisheries Blog — if Nemo’s mom died, Nemo’s dad would change sex and Nemo would eventually mate with his dad.
I know, not the story you want to explain to your four year old but it is based on scientific fact. All clownfish are born hermaphrodites with both testicular and ovarian tissue. As needed, the fish evolve into male and female. Most often it is the more aggressive fish that will emerge as the female with the other fish turning into males until the need emerges for another female.
Still confused? Then watch this video:
