False cleanerfish
📖 Overview
Adults are found solitary or in small groups in lagoons, subtidal reef flats and outer reef slopes (where it occurs to depths of over 20 m). Often in pairs in empty worm tubes or narrow holes. They mimic the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus and nip fins, skin and scales of other fishes . They even copy the motion of the cleaner wrasse that may induce other fish to come close, then target their scales or mucus for a feed, biting and quickly retreating to the corals before the victim realizes that it was tricked; experienced fish recognize imposters and often give it a chase . Diet is supplemented with benthic invertebrates and zooplankton . Also feed on tubeworms and demersal fish eggs. Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive , and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal . Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26 - 28; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 25 - 28. Bears an amazing resemblance to the cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus. Distinguished from L. dimidiatus by the position of its mouth, which is terminal in the wrasse but under the snout in the blenny.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for False cleanerfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for False cleanerfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Distinct pairing .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 25 m . Tropical; 32°N - 32°S
🌿 Ecology
tubeworms and demersal fish eggs
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"False cleanerfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 103 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for False cleanerfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Cleaner Mimic · Cleaner Mimic Blenny · False Cleaner · Mimic Blenny · false cleanerfish · threadfin blenny |
| 🌍CES | slizoun dravý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Falsk pudsefisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Falscher Putzerfisch |
| 🇫🇷French | Blennie mimétique · Faux labre nettoyeur · Faux nettoyeur |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Falso labride pulitore |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Nisekurosujigimpo · ニセクロスジギンポ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Falso-limpador-do-Indo-Pacífico |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Синебрюхий аспидонт |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Blenio Falso Limpiador |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspidontus taeniatus taeniatus | — | — | Synonym |
| Aspinodontus taeniatus | Quoy & Gaimard | 1834 | Synonym |
| Petrocirtes taeniatus | Quoy & Gaimard | 1834 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 8 records indexed .
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