Cleaning symbiosis: mutualism near coral reefs

The cleaning symbiotic relationship performed by fish is one of the iconic ecological processes observed on tropical reefs. A cleaning symbiosis will mutually benefit the involved species. For example, when cleaner wrasses eat pesky parasites off the skin and gills of fish there may be an increase in the lifespan of the fish cleaned. As well, cleaners may groom fish by removing mucus, scales and skin. The cleaning symbiosis is of mutal benefit to both the cleaner (as food) and the fish client (through improved health).

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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chondrichthyes Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Chondrichthyes Coastal Manta Ray Ecology Elasmobranch Hoover's IUCN Red List IUCN Red List species at high risk of humancaused extinction Infraclass Teleostei Inshore Manta Ray International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Manta Ray Mobula alfredi Myliobatidae Myliobatiformes Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Prince Alfred's Ray Reef Manta Ray Resident Manta Ray Saddle Wrasse Seacam underwater housing Subclass Elasmobranchii Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Thalassoma duperrey Vertebrate Vulnerable VU conservation status World Conservation Union IUCN biological biosphere chordate cleaning station cleaning symbiosis formerly Manta alfredi in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism parasite underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Aquarium dive site Big Island Biology Chaetodon ornatissimus Chaetodontidae Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cleaner Wrasse Ecology Forcepsfish Forcipiger flavissimus Hawaii Hawaii Island Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Infraclass Teleostei Kona Coast Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Manybar Goatfish Mullidae Neopterygii Ornate Butterflyfish Parupeneus multifasciatus Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate cleaning station cleaning symbiosis in situ living naturalworld organism scuba underwater winter
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).
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coris gaimard Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowtail Coris biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis female in situ lava boulder living naturalworld organism symbiotic underwater winter
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chondrichthyes Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Chondrichthyes Coastal Manta Ray Ecology Elasmobranch Hawaii Hawaii Island Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic IUCN Red List IUCN Red List species at high risk of humancaused extinction Infraclass Teleostei Inshore Manta Ray International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species Koie Ray Kona Coast Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Manta Ray Mobula alfredi Myliobatidae Myliobatiformes Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Prince Alfred's Ray Reef Manta Ray Resident Manta Ray Seacam underwater housing Subclass Elasmobranchii Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Vertebrate Vulnerable VU conservation status World Conservation Union IUCN biological biosphere chordate endemic female formerly Manta alfredi in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chaetodon ornatissimus Chaetodontidae Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kauai Island Kauai dive site Sheraton Caverns Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Neopterygii Ornate Butterflyfish Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse approaching a Yellowmargin Moray Eel
Juvenile Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) approaching a Yellowmargin Moray Eel (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus).
Actinopterygii Anguilliformes Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Gymnothorax flavimarginatus Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kauai Island Kauai dive site Sheraton Caverns Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Muraenidae Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowmargin Moray Eel biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaii Hawaii Island Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology California Chordata Class Actinopterygii Disneyland Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Spring SquareSpot Goatfish Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish Yellowstripe Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology California Chordata Class Actinopterygii Disneyland Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pacificstock RF Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pawai Bay Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Sand Channel Pawai Bay Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Pacificstock RF Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Mullidae Mulloidichthys vanicolensis Neopterygii Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Yellowfin Goatfish biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Black Durgon at cleaning station
Black Durgon (Melichthys niger) at cleaning station over thick finger coral (Porites duerdeni) off the Kona coast. Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Anthozoa Balistidae Biology Black Durgon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Knobby Finger Coral Kona coast dive site Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Melichthys niger Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Perciformes Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Plectognathi Porites duerdeni Poritidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Tetraodontiformes Thick Finger Coral Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cleaning station cnidarian coelenterate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaii Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kahaluu KailuaKona Kona Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Saddle Wrasse Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Thalassoma duperrey United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving snorkeling symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Acanthuridae Acanthuroidei Acanthurus triostegus Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Convict Surgeonfish Convict Tang Ecology Hawaii Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kahaluu KailuaKona Kona Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate cleaning symbiosis endemic in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving snorkeling symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
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.
Acroporidae Actinopterygii Animal Anthozoa Biology Chaetodontidae Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Hawaii Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse Hawaiian endemic Hemitaurichthys polylepis Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Labridae Labroidei Labroides phthirophagus Montipora capitata Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pyramid Butterflyfish Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere butterflyfish chordate cleaning symbiosis cnidarian coelenterate endemic in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism rice coral scuba scuba diving symbiosis underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wrasse