Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Usually, mimicry is a permanent state (more so in vertebrates than invertebrates). But this is not the case for the bluestriped fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) which can 'turn off' its mimetic appearance at will.

The fangblenny mimics the juvenile bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), which is characterised by an electric blue stripe on each side its black body. In its non-mimetic colouration, the fangblenny is orange or olive/brown and shoal with other reef fish - predominantly red-cheeked anthias (Pseudanthias huchti), purple anthias (Pseudanthias tuka) and shoulderspot wrasses (Leptojulis cyanopleura) (Cote and Cheney, 2005).

Figure 1: a) mimetic bluestriped fangblenny b) juvenile bluestreak cleaner wrasse (model)

c) and d) orange and olive/brown forms of non-mimetic bluestriped fangblenny

In its mimetic form, the fangblenny can blend in with the harmless cleaner wrasse and ambush unsuspecting prey (an example of aggressive mimicry). In its non-mimetic form, the fangblenny also ambushes prey; however no disguise/deception is utilized in this instance.

- Cote, I. M. and Cheney, K. L. 2005, 'Choosing when to be a cleaner-fish', Nature, vol. 433, pp. 211.

- Figure 1: (Cote and Cheney, 2005), retrieved 09/04/14.