Finding Nemo fans are baffled as marine biologists reveal real clownfish biology would have drastically changed the Disney movie’s plot. If Finding Nemo followed science, Marlin’s parenting journey would’ve turned into a whole new fish tale—complete with unexpected twists under the sea.

What Finding Nemo fans didn’t know is that real clownfish biology throws a wild curveball: when a mother clownfish dies, the father—like Marlin—actually changes sex and becomes female. So, in a scientifically accurate Finding Nemo, Marlin would’ve become Nemo’s mom!