Oxycheilinus mentalis
Species of fish
Oxycheilinus mentalis | |
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Conservation status | |
![]() Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Labriformes |
Family: | Labridae |
Genus: | Oxycheilinus |
Species: | O. mentalis |
Binomial name | |
Oxycheilinus mentalis (Rüppell, 1828 ) | |
Synonyms[2] | |
Cheilinus mentalis Rüppell, 1828 |
Oxycheilinus mentalis (mental wrasse) is a species of wrasse found in the Western Indian Ocean, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.[2]
It has been known to change its colouration to match species of non-predatory parrotfish and surgeonfish. It then swims with these harmless model species and predates upon passing fish. This is a form of aggressive mimicry.[3] Without a model fish, the mental wrasse has a reddish pink colour.
References
- ^ Liu, M.; To, A. (2010). "Oxycheilinus mentalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187735A8616212. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187735A8616212.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Oxycheilinus mentalis". FishBase. August 2019 version.
- ^ Randall, J. E. (2005). A review of mimicry in marine fishes. Zoological Studies, 44(3), 299–328.
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