What fish family contains the clownfishes and damselfishes?

The fish family containing clownfishes and damselfishes is Pomacentridae.

Pomacentridae is a family of mostly small marine ray-finned fishes, many of which live around tropical coral reefs. Clownfishes belong mainly to the genus Amphiprion, while damselfishes occur across numerous other genera, including Chromis, Dascyllus and Pomacentrus.

Clownfishes are famous for their mutualistic relationship with sea anemones. The anemone offers shelter from predators, while the fish can defend it, clean it and provide nutrients. Damselfishes are often territorial; some defend algae gardens that they cultivate as a food source.

The family name comes from Greek roots associated with a cover and a sting, referring to serrations along the opercular bones of many members. Pomacentrids usually lay externally fertilized eggs, and males commonly guard the nest until the larvae hatch. Cichlids, wrasses and mackerels belong to different families.