Cleaning symbiosis among British fish with special reference toCrenilabrus melops(Labridae)

Abstract

Three new examples of cleaning symbiosis are recorded among the British labridae, Crenilabrus melops, Ctenolabrus rupestris and Centrolabrus exoletus. The first two have only been seen in aquaria although parasites in the stomach of C. melops caught offshore suggests cleaning activity occurs in their natural environment. C. melops has been observed in the public aquarium taking parasites from the bodies of a number of host fish most commonly the pink bream (Pagellus centrodontus). Most cleaning activity occurs after the lights are first turned on when the hosts remain stationary to be cleaned. At this time the incidence of parasites on their bodies is most obvious. Certain areas of the body are cleaned in preference to others. Details are given of cleaning symbiosis by the pipe fish Enterlurus aequoreus, Syngnathus typhle and S. acus.