Oxycheilinus mentalis | |
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Scientific classification
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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.
Oxycheilinus mentalis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
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.