A new study by the University of Liege, Belgium, published in the PLOS ONE has tried to reveal the mystery behind the acoustic signals produced by clownfishes.

According to findings of the study, clownfish does not make sound for mating, unlike the other 360 species of its family because the male doesn't need to attract females since there is only one fish of each gender in the group. Further, it was found that the dominating clownfish makes popping sounds while moving aggressively in its circle.

It's generally believed that the sound production by fishes calls for the invaders. But, clownfishes in this case are secure since they live in groups around anemones, plants that can sting the predators, therefore, protecting the territorial marine fish from falling prey to them.

Dominant fishes make the sounds that are larger than their subordinates. "In terms of cost energy, you don't have to interact with another individual to determine which is the dominant and which is the subordinate, you just need to make a sound", said Orphal Colleye, the lead study Author and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Liege, Belgium.

Clownfishes live in a group of up to six around a single sea anemone with largest fish female, next to it male and rest with neutral gender.