Labroides phthirophagus
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Eupercaria
Ordo: Labriformes
Familia: Labridae
Genus: Labroides
Species: Labroides phthirophagus
Name
Labroides phthirophagus Randall, 1958
Holotype: USNM 164466. [Paratypes: BMNH 1955.12.12.1 (1), SU 48445 (2), USNM 164467-69 (1, 1, 1)].
Type locality: 100 yards offshore from Waikiki branch of Hawaii Marine Laboratory, Honolulu, Oahu Island, Hawaiian Islands, U.S.A., depth 7 feet.
References
Randall, J.E. 1958: A review of the labrid fish genus Labroides, with descriptions of two new species and notes on ecology. Pacific Science, 12(4): 327–347, Pl. 1.
Parenti, P. & J.E. Randall 2000: An annotated checklist of the species of the Labroid fish families Labridae and Scaridae. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, 68: 1–97.
Labroides phthirophagus in FishBase,
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.) 2022. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, version 08/2021.
Vernacular names
English: Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse or golden cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), is a species of wrasse (genus Labroides) found in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. The fish is endemic to Hawaii. These cleaner fish inhabit coral reefs, setting up a territory referred to as a cleaning station. They obtain a diet of small crustacean parasites by removing them from other reef fish in a cleaning symbiosis.[3]
Description
The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse grows to a maximum length of about 12 cm (5 in).[4] This fish is strikingly coloured; the anterior part is golden, with a dark lateral stripe running from the eye to the tail, becoming wider at the back. The posterior part of the fish has purple and violet colouration on the fins.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This fish is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and nearby Johnston Atoll. It is typically found on coral and rocky reefs, but avoids the surge zone. It is found at depths down to about 90 m (300 ft).[1]
Ecology
The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse moves with a graceful flitting movement. At night it may rest in a balloon-like cocoon it builds from mucus. The species is monogamous, with a pair bond being formed during the breeding season.[4] It is an obligate feeder on the ectoparasites of other fish to the extent that it will fail to thrive in an aquarium where these feeding needs are not met.[1]
The behaviour of this fish is very similar to that of the closely related bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), widely found in the rest of Indo-Pacific region. Both species operate cleaning stations where larger fish (clients) visit and cooperate in the removal by the cleaner fish of their ectoparasites, loose flakes of skin and mucus. The arrangement is mutually beneficial, with the client fish having its parasites removed and the wrasse gaining protection and finding an easy meal. The process is not without danger for the cleaner fish as many of the client fish are piscivores, but observations in the wild show an apparent absence of "cheating" by the client fish, which seem to appreciate the tactile stimulation provided by the cleaner fish moving around their skin and fins.[6]
It seems that cleaner fish build up a relationship with their clients and there is some communication between them. When the client arrives at a cleaning station, it observes what the cleaner fish is doing if it already has a client, and may depart if the cleaner's previous client "jolts" (twitches in response to a cleaner "cheating" by taking a bite of the client's scales or mucus[7]). If happy with what it sees, the new client adopts a certain species-specific pose which invites the cleaner fish to set to work on it.[6]
Status
This fish has a restricted range in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands but is relatively common there. Much of its range is within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a well-managed marine protected area. No specific threats to this fish have been identified although degradation of its coral reef habitat is likely to have some impact on it. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern.[1]
Aquatic Trade
This fish is sometimes taken out of the wild for aquarium trade around the world. It can be found on many aquatic fish websites.
References
Allen, G.R.; Craig, M.; Pollard, D.; Rocha, L.; Sadovy, Y.J. (2010). "Labroides phthirophagus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T155017A4698430. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155017A4698430.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
Bailly, Nicolas (2018). "Labroides phthirophagus Randall, 1958". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
Stummer, Laura E.; Weller, Jennifer A.; Johnson, Magnus L.; Côté, Isabelle M. (2004). "Size and stripes: how fish clients recognize cleaners" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 68 (1): 145–150. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.10.018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
"Hawaiian cleaner wrasse". FishBase. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
"Golden Cleaner Wrasse (Hawaii) - Labroides phthirophagus". Fresh Marine. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
Magnhagen, Carin (2008). Fish Behaviour. CRC Press. pp. 563–569. ISBN 978-1-4398-4302-4.
Soares, M. C.; Bshary, R.; Cardoso, S. C.; Côté, I. M. (2008). "The Meaning of Jolts by Fish Clients of Cleaning Gobies" (PDF). Ethology. 114 (3): 209–214. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01471.x.
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