The Bluestriped Fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) has a deceptively goofy smile but this fish is actually a mimic of the cleaner wrasse. Cleaner wrasses perform an important function on reefs – they clean the parasites and bacteria off the skin of other fish. The Bluestriped Fangblenny disguises itself as a cleaner wrasse but it cheats – it pretends to clean fish when it is actually taking bites off of its unsuspecting victims. Its venom contains an opioid that dulls the pain of its bite and gives it time to escape.

Life In The Undercoral

by Shreya Yadav

The Bluestriped Fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) has a deceptively goofy smile but this fish is actually a mimic of the cleaner wrasse. Cleaner wrasses perform an important function on reefs – they clean the parasites and bacteria off the skin of other fish. The Bluestriped Fangblenny disguises itself as a cleaner wrasse but it cheats – it pretends to clean fish when it is actually taking bites off of its unsuspecting victims. Its venom contains an opioid that dulls the pain of its bite and gives it time to escape.