The Visual Ecology of Anemonefishes

Abstract

Investigations of ageing mechanisms are performed using a restricted number of model species such as laboratory mice (Mus musculus), common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), zebrafish (Danio rerio), and roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans). Although the use of such established models gives considerable advantages, such as access to genomic and transcriptomic data, established protocols, and information about their physiology, this approach can introduce bias due to the intrinsic attributes of the examined species. For this reason, emerging animal models with unique features have attracted the attention of scientists. These species can be used as effective tools allowing scientists to go deeper into ageing mechanisms, as in the case of Nothobranchius furzeri, a killifish that is utilized as a short-lived aquatic model. However, scientists still need a vertebrate model characterized by exceptional longevity. These features completely fit several species belonging to Amphiprion genus, commonly called clownfishes or anemonefishes that are already used as models in other scientific fields. Transcriptomic investigations in clownfishes have demonstrated a positive selection for pathways related to redox, immunity, and mitonuclear balance. Moreover, it has been demonstrated a convergent selection with both long-lived organisms and short-lived species. For these reasons, we suggest the use of clownfishes as an easy-to-keep, culture, breed, and manage long-lived model for ageing studies.