In 2024, scientists found that clownfish use white stripes to spot rivals; the fish attacked most when intruders matched their three-stripe pattern

Clownfish are anything but friendly when it comes to defending their homes, showcasing a fierce loyalty to their anemone habitats. They have an intriguing ability to recognize rivals by counting their body’s distinctive white stripes. Studies have revealed that clownfish predominantly attack decoys matching their own stripe pattern, highlighting their unexpected knack for mathematical pattern recognition.