How real life 'Nemos' find their way home: 03-09-2008
Travellers may remember the little orange fish in the Disney film Finding Nemo.
Scientists in Australia have been studying its real life counterpart, the clownfish, and discovered that it uses its nose to find its way around.
The team led by James Cook University's Geoffrey Jones found that the fish use odours from coral, leaves and anemones to navigate through the coral reefs that surround Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The scientists explained that they exposed ocean water to five different types of leaves from the islands that the fish are usually attracted to.
"The islands are loaded with trees," lead author Danielle Dixson told Discovery News.
"They were attracted to all of them."
Much like the film, each little 'Nemo' has to find its way home as it is carried away by currents as larvae before hatching and finding a new home around 11 days later.
Travellers can see some of the most spectacular marine life in the world around Australia by exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
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