biostudies-literatureUnknown7(10)Mitchell MDFishes are known to use chemical alarm cues from both conspecifics and heterospecifics to assess local predation risks and enhance predator detection. Yet it is unknown how recognition of heterospecific cues arises for coral reef fishes. Here, we test if naïve juvenile fish have an innate recognition of heterospecific alarm cues. We also examine if there is a relationship between the intensity of the antipredator response to these cues and the degree to which species are related to each other. Naïve juvenile anemone fish, Amphiprion percula, were tested to see if they displayed antipredator responses to chemical alarm cues from four closely related heterospecific species (family Pomacentridae), a distantly related sympatric species (Asterropteryx semipunctatus) and a saltwater (control). JPloS onee47428https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3475700biostudies-literatureChemical alarm cues are conserved within the coral reef fish family Pomacentridae.PMC3475700McCormick MIMitchell MDCowman PFfalseChemical alarm cues are conserved within the coral reef fish family Pomacentridae.Fishes are known to use chemical alarm cues from both conspecifics and heterospecifics to assess local predation risks and enhance predator detection. Yet it is unknown how recognition of heterospecific cues arises for coral reef fishes. Here, we test if naïve juvenile fish have an innate recognition of heterospecific alarm cues. We also examine if there is a relationship between the intensity of the antipredator response to these cues and the degree to which species are related to each other. Naïve juvenile anemone fish, Amphiprion percula, were tested to see if they displayed antipredator responses to chemical alarm cues from four closely related heterospecific species (family Pomacentridae), a distantly related sympatric species (Asterropteryx semipunctatus) and a saltwater (control). J2012-01-01T00:00:00Z20122025-04-18T11:55:32.13Z2019-03-26T23:08:38ZS-EPMC34757002309404710.1371/journal.pone.0047428