Short Communication

Intraspecific cleaning by juvenile Cape white seabream Diplodus capensis (Sparidae) off eastern South Africa

Published in: African Journal of Marine Science
Volume 40 , issue 1 , 2018 , pages: 97–99

DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2018.1434091

Author(s): PC Sikkel Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sciences Program, USA , NJ Smit Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, South Africa

Keywords: cleaner wrasse , client fish , coral reef , ectoparasites , ethology , facultative cleaner , microcarnivore , temperate reef

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Abstract

Juveniles of the Cape white seabream Diplodus capensis were observed cleaning adult conspecifics in a large tidepool off Sodwana Bay, South Africa. Although nine other tropical fish species were present and interacted with a nearby pair of Labroides cleaner wrasses, only adults of D. capensis posed for and were cleaned by the D. capensis juveniles. Such cleaning interactions have not been reported previously for this species or among marine fishes off South Africa, and thus add to the growing list of facultative cleaners globally.

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