Researchers claim to have discovered that the Clown Anemonefish - better known as Nemo from the Disney cartoon - can count the number of stripes on other fish.

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) determined that the clown anemone fish, which appeared in the hit cartoon 'Finding Nemo', has the cognitive ability to recognise stripes.

The groundbreaking study, lead by Dr. Kina Hayashi and his team, closely watched the marine creature in its natural habitat and discovered that it can distinguish between different species of anemone fish based on the white stripes on their bodies.

According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, Nemo fish were more aggressive toward fish with three vertical bars, whereas fish with fewer bars were attacked less. Fish with no bars, on the other hand, experienced the least amount of hostility. The report claimed that this demonstrates that anemone fish can identify intruder species by counting the amount of white stripes.

More studies were carried out to validate the findings with juvenile lab-raised clown anemone fish. The researchers discovered a rigid hierarchy inside clown anemone fish colonies, with each fish's social position dictated by size differences.

They said the study demonstrates the necessity of understanding the marine ecosystem, particularly in conserving the coral reef where clown fish live.

Dr. Hayashi emphasised the necessity for conservation efforts, stating that these findings challenge the beliefs about fish cognition and indicate the potential for future discoveries in marine life cognitive capacities.