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False cleanerfish — printable fact sheet
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False cleanerfish
Aspidontus taeniatus
The false cleanerfish is a small, slender marine fish known for its extraordinary mimicry of the bluestreak cleaner wrasse. Sporting a similar blue and black stripe, it deceives other reef fish into approaching, expecting cleaning services. Instead of removing parasites, the fal…
Did you know?
- Despite their deceptive behavior, false cleanerfish rarely cause serious harm to their 'victims,' allowing them to maintain their ruse on the busy reef.
- The false cleanerfish is famous for its near-perfect mimicry of the bluestreak cleaner wrasse, fooling both fish and divers. Unlike the helpful wrasse, it uses its disguise to sneak bites from unsuspecting fish. It is one of the most recognized examples of aggressive mimicry among marine animals.
What I learned
Draw the false cleanerfish
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