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.