From explaining whether fish really talk or if sharks could ever really give up eating fish, the Aquarium's Curator of Fishes, Alison Davidson, and her team of aquarists are armed to give visitors the real scoop on the movie's real-life counterparts.
"Many of us have already seen or are eager to see `Finding Nemo,'" says Davidson, who helps oversee the Aquarium's collection of 11,000 animals from 600 species. "Already our visitors are seeking out the Aquarium's clownfish and blue tangs. Before `Finding Nemo' debuted, these species dwelled in relative obscurity compared to our sharks and dolphins."
Here are the top 10 questions the Aquarium anticipates from Nemo fans:
1. Do clownfish really live in sea anemones?
Davidson: Yes, clownfish do live among the tentacles of sea anemones, including ours at the Aquarium. Normally the anemone would sting and eat most fish that stray into its tentacles. However, the clownfish has a special mucous coating that prevents it from getting stung. The anemone provides shelter and protection to the clownfish. In return, the clownfish helps defend the anemone from other fish that might pick at its tentacles.
2. Do fish talk? If so, can they hear each other underwater?
Davidson: Fish do not "talk" as we think of it, but they can make
noises under water to communicate. For example, croakers are so named
because of the loud noise they make to one another by vibrating their
swim bladders.
3. How long could a saltwater fish survive in fresh water? How long can fish survive out of water altogether?
Davidson: Generally, saltwater fish do not survive long when placed in
fresh water, and vice-versa. The osmotic stress is too overwhelming for
them. However, there are certain fish that can move between salt and
fresh water, provided they transition slowly. An example is a salmon
that hatches in freshwater streams, travels to the ocean where it spends
most of its adult life, and returns to streams to spawn. The majority
of fish (including clownfish) will not survive for more than a few
minutes out of water.
4. In the movie, Dory is always forgetting what just happened. Do fish
have memories?
Davidson: There certainly have been studies that demonstrate that fish
can learn new behaviors (e.g., feeding techniques) and seem to remember
those behaviors. I don't know if anyone has tested whether fish
remember distinct events, although I would imagine they would have some
capacity for this.
5. Can sharks really "smell" blood? Do they have noses?
Davidson: Sharks have noses, which are called "nares" in the scientific
world. Nares have both smell and taste receptors, so sharks can taste
with both their noses and their mouths. In addition, sharks have
electrosensory receptors in pits all around their face, as well as have
very sensitive motion detectors in the lateral line that runs down the
sides of their bodies. This makes them pretty effective in finding
their food!
NEXT PAGE: More Answers to Fish Questions
