6. Hawkfish and Fire Coral: Living on the Edge
A remarkable symbiotic relationship challenging our knowledge of marine life adaptations is the one between hawkfish and fire coral. Though its name suggests otherwise, fire coral is a marine organism closely associated with jellyfish and sea anemones rather than a genuine coral. Its strong sting is well-known for causing human scarring as well as great agony. Some species of hawkfish, meantime, have developed to live in these perilous formations. Perched on the branches of fire coral, the hawkfish—with their vivid hues and unique profiles—seemingly impervious to the deadly touch. The hawkfish gains from this unusual living arrangement in various ways. Excellent camouflage provided by the fire coral’s intricate architecture lets the hawkfish hide and evade predators. The strong defence mechanism of the fire coral also discourages other fish from approaching, therefore providing the hawkfish with a safe vantage position from which to view their surroundings and identify possible prey. The hawkfish clean the fire coral in exchange, clearing trash and parasites from its surface. Acting as a first line of protection as well, they chase away butterflyfish and other coral-eating animals that might compromise their habitat. This link shows the amazing flexibility of reef fish as well as the surprising shapes symbiosis may produce in the sea. It is evidence of the evolutionary arms race in coral reef ecosystems, in which organisms constantly create fresh survival and thriving tactics in a very competitive environment.