This creole-fish (Paranthias
furcifer) stops and spreads its fins out, and sometimes
opens its mouth and puffs out its gills to allow cleaner
fishes such as this juvenile spanish hogfish (Bodianus
rufus) to get at all the dead tissue and perhaps
parasites. Creole fish occur in enormous numbers at Stetson
Bank. They have been seen waiting in line for their turn to
be cleaned! Cleaning stations are usually set up at
prominent points in the landscape, such as this blackball
sponge (Ircinia strobilina) by several different
species of fish as well as a couple of species of shrimp.
Animals documented as receiving cleanings at the Flower
Gardens include many fish species, eels, and sea turtles.
The Flower Gardens research program is collaborating with
Dr. Mary Wicksten, professor of invertebrate zoology at
Texas A&M University, studying the cleaning behavior at
the Sanctuary. (photo: Frank and Joyce Burek)
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