Appearance and lifestyle:
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) are small, elongated fish that have a white and bright blue colour with a black horizontal line. They are active on coral reefs and provide a cleaning service to larger fish. The clients will even open their mouths, and gill covers to allow the wrasse to clean. Males are territorial and set up a cleaning station with several females. If the male dies or is removed, the dominant female will become a male within two to four days!
A small blenny, Aspidontus taeniatus, mimics the cleaner wrasse, but instead of cleaning, it tears pieces of flesh from surprised “clients”.
Habitat:
Indo-pacific coral reefs.
Diet:
These busy little fish feed on the parasites and mucus covering their “clients”.
Threats:
Overcollection, habitat loss, pollution.