Cleaning symbiosis: mutualism near coral reefs
Hawaiian Saddle Wrasse approach to clean a Reef Manta Ray of parasites
Endemic Hawaiian Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) approach to clean a Reef Manta Ray a.k.a Coastal Manta Ray (Mobula (formerly Manta) alfredi) of parasites at a reef cleaning station off the Kona coast, Hawaii. Photographed using a Nikon D3X camera in a Seacam underwater housing equipped with a Seacam-modified Nikonos RS 20-35mm zoom lens set at 20mm.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChondrichthyesChordataClass ActinopterygiiClass ChondrichthyesCoastal Manta RayEcologyElasmobranchHoover'sIUCN Red ListIUCN Red List species at high risk of humancaused extinctionInfraclass TeleosteiInshore Manta RayInternational Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened SpeciesKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiManta RayMobula alfrediMyliobatidaeMyliobatiformesNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataPrince Alfred's RayReef Manta RayResident Manta RaySaddle WrasseSeacam underwater housingSubclass ElasmobranchiiSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiThalassoma duperreyVertebrateVulnerable VU conservation statusWorld Conservation Union IUCNbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning stationcleaning symbiosisformerly Manta alfrediin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismparasiteunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwinter
Taking turns at cleaning station
Taking turns at a Kona, Hawaii cleaning station. A Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) attends to the dorsal fin of an Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) turned on its side while its putative mate, a Forceptsfish (Forcipiger flavissimus), and a Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) wait their turns.
ActinopterygiiAnimalAquarium dive siteBig IslandBiologyChaetodon ornatissimusChaetodontidaeChordataClass ActinopterygiiCleaner WrasseEcologyForcepsfishForcipiger flavissimusHawaiiHawaii IslandHawaiian Cleaner WrasseInfraclass TeleosteiKona CoastKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusManybar GoatfishMullidaeNeopterygiiOrnate ButterflyfishParupeneus multifasciatusPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiThe Big IslandUnited StatesVertebratebiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning stationcleaning symbiosisin situlivingnaturalworldorganismscubaunderwaterwinter
Cleaning station
A Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) attends to a Yelowtail Coris (Coris gaimard) while another one waits ready for another customer at a cleaning staion next to a submerged lava boulder on the Kona coast of the Big Island, Hawaii. Both species are members of the wrasse family, Labridae (Perciformes, Teleostei).
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoris gaimardEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowtail Corisbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisfemalein situlava boulderlivingnaturalworldorganismsymbioticunderwaterwinter
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse searches for parasites in the mouth of a Reef Manta Ray
While a Hawaii Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) searches for parasites in its mouth, a Reef Manta Ray (Mobula (formerly Manta) alfredi) hovers over a reef cleaning station off the Kona Coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA during the summer. This particular female manta with a missing left cephalic lobe has been observed by divers and snorkelers at Kona since 2001 is named Koi Ray.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBig IslandBiologyChondrichthyesChordataClass ActinopterygiiClass ChondrichthyesCoastal Manta RayEcologyElasmobranchHawaiiHawaii IslandHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicIUCN Red ListIUCN Red List species at high risk of humancaused extinctionInfraclass TeleosteiInshore Manta RayInternational Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened SpeciesKoie RayKona CoastLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusManta RayMobula alfrediMyliobatidaeMyliobatiformesNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataPrince Alfred's RayReef Manta RayResident Manta RaySeacam underwater housingSubclass ElasmobranchiiSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiThe Big IslandUnited StatesVertebrateVulnerable VU conservation statusWorld Conservation Union IUCNbiologicalbiospherechordateendemicfemaleformerly Manta alfrediin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse maneuvering around an Ornate Butterflyfish
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) maneuvering around an Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) that is poised against a life-encrusted lava wall waiting to be cleaned.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChaetodon ornatissimusChaetodontidaeChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKauai IslandKauai dive site Sheraton CavernsLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusNeopterygiiOrnate ButterflyfishPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebratebiologicalbiospherechordateendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse approaching a Yellowmargin Moray Eel
Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) approaching a Yellowmargin Moray Eel (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus).
ActinopterygiiAnguilliformesAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyGymnothorax flavimarginatusHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKauai IslandKauai dive site Sheraton CavernsLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMuraenidaeNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowmargin Moray Eelbiologicalbiospherechordateendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Hawaian Cleaner Wrasse at a cleaning station
Hawaian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) by Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) waiting at a cleaning station off the Kona coast, The Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBig IslandBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiiHawaii IslandHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKonaLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiThe Big IslandUnited StatesVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordateendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse removing parasites from a Yellowfin Goatfish
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) removing parasites from a Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyCaliforniaChordataClass ActinopterygiiDisneylandEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys flavolineatusMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSpringSquareSpot GoatfishSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateYellowfin GoatfishYellowstripe Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyCaliforniaChordataClass ActinopterygiiDisneylandEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiologicalbiospherechordateendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), an endemic Hawaiian fish species, near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring. This photograph was taken while scuba diving with Jack's Diving Locker at Sand Channel Pawai Bay.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPacificstock RFPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish school with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) school being attended by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPawai BayPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSand Channel Pawai BaySeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), a Hawaiian endemic fish, hover near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPacificstock RFPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Yellowfin Goatfish with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Yellowfin Goatfish (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) with a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) hover near a reef off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMullidaeMulloidichthys vanicolensisNeopterygiiPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiVertebrateYellowfin Goatfishbiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Black Durgon at cleaning station
Black Durgon (Melichthys niger) at cleaning station over thick finger coral (Porites duerdeni) off the Kona coast. Hawaii Island.
ActinopterygiiAnimalAnthozoaBalistidaeBiologyBlack DurgonChordataClass ActinopterygiiClass AnthozoaCnidariaEcologyHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiInvertebrateKnobby Finger CoralKona coast dive siteLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMelichthys nigerNeopterygiiOrder ScleractiniaPerciformesPhylum ChordataPhylum CnidariaPlectognathiPorites duerdeniPoritidaePyramid PinnacleSeacam underwater housingSpringSubclass HexacoralliaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiTetraodontiformesThick Finger CoralVertebrateZoanthariabiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning stationcnidariancoelenterateendemicin situlivingmarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Saddle Wrasse being attended to by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
A Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey) being attended to by a Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) photographed under water while snorkeling Kona, Hawaii Island. Both species are Hawaiian endemics. Aspect ratio = 1:1.
ActinopterygiiAnimalBig IslandBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiEcologyHawaiiHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKahaluuKailuaKonaKonaLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataSaddle WrasseSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiThalassoma duperreyUnited StatesVertebratebiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarinemarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsnorkelingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse removing parasites from a Convict Suregonfish's gill cavity
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) removing parasites from a Convict Suregonfish's (Acanthurus triostegus) gill cavity photographed under water while snorkeling Kona, Hawaii Island. Aspect ratio = 4:5.
AcanthuridaeAcanthuroideiAcanthurus triostegusActinopterygiiAnimalBig IslandBiologyChordataClass ActinopterygiiConvict SurgeonfishConvict TangEcologyHawaiiHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicInfraclass TeleosteiKahaluuKailuaKonaKonaLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusNeopterygiiPerciformesPhylum ChordataSeacam underwater housingSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiologicalbiospherechordatecleaning symbiosisendemicin situlivingmarinemarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismscubascuba divingsnorkelingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowild
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse with a Pyramid Butterfyfish over rice coral
A Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), a Hawaiian endemic, with a Pyramid Butterfyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) over rice coral (Montipora capitata) photographed under water while scuba diving at Reef's End, Molokini Crater, Maui Island, Hawaii. Aspect ratio = 1:1.
AcroporidaeActinopterygiiAnimalAnthozoaBiologyChaetodontidaeChordataClass ActinopterygiiClass AnthozoaCnidariaEcologyHawaiiHawaiian Cleaner WrasseHawaiian endemicHemitaurichthys polylepisInfraclass TeleosteiInvertebrateLabridaeLabroideiLabroides phthirophagusMontipora capitataNeopterygiiOrder ScleractiniaPerciformesPercoideiPhylum ChordataPhylum CnidariaPyramid ButterflyfishSeacam underwater housingSubclass HexacoralliaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateZoanthariabiologicalbiospherebutterflyfishchordatecleaning symbiosiscnidariancoelenterateendemicin situlivingmarinemarine lifenaturalworldnatureorganismrice coralscubascuba divingsymbiosisunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwrasse