Cleaning interactions between the cleaner wrasse Symphodus melanocercus (Osteichthyes: Labridae) and brown meagre Sciaena umbra (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae). (9th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ventura, Daniele; Machado, Leonardo Francisco; Bonifazi, Andrea; Gravina, Maria Flavia; Ardizzone, Giandomenico
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Volume 98:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 829
• Page End: 831
• Publication Date: 2017-02-09
• Subjects: Cleaning interaction, -- central Mediterranean Sea, -- Giglio Island, -- labrid, -- sciaenid, -- ectoparasite, -- isopod, -- underwater observations, -- behaviour, -- microhabitats; Biology -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; 578.77
• DOI: 10.1017/S0025315417000029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-3154

Abstract

Abstract : Cleaning interactions between the wrasse Symphodus melanocercus and brown meagre Sciaena umbra are documented from observations whilst free diving on a shallow rocky reef in the central Mediterranean Sea. Cleaning events occurred at cleaning stations mainly during the morning and gradually decreased in the evening. The body parts mostly cleaned were the opercular region and the fins, possibly as gnathiid isopods preferentially attach to these areas.