Sculpin cleaning behavior on Lingcod, Cabezon, Wolf Eel, and other species.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Last February, Adm. Linda got a picture of a Longfin Sculpin on
a Lingcod, engaged in what appears to cleaning behavior.

http://www.ncups.org/sea/SEA2009/california/index.html

This as provoked interest in this behavior in the scientific community.
Tony Parra of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is
interested in hearing about any other sighting of cleaning behavior
by sculpins (of whatever species) on Lingcod, Cabezon, Wolf Eel, and
other species. If you have seen such behavior, please contact Tony at
Tony.Parra@dfw.wa.gov (and CC me, just cuz I'm curious).

If you see such behavior, please try to note the species and approximate
size of both fish, and where the cleaning appears to be taking place
(in particular in the mouth or out of the mouth).

 

[kwest]

Whatever it is doing it sure makes for an awesome photo.

(((kevin)))

 

[mikeguerrero]

Chuck,

Are you referring to any type of mutualism or commensalism from one species to another in Monterey, or just the Sculpin to any other species?

In tropical waters you clearly see mustualism a lot between many different species of shrimp. Banded coral shrimp, Red blood shrimp, Scarlet Shrimp and Pistol Shrimp are among a few that have relationships with many fish.

I've been looking to see if any mutualism is emerging in our waters, and will pay closer attention, after seeing Linda's picture I'm fascinated.

At the breakwater I have seen lots of smaller shrimps hanging out with many smaller gobies, I just haven't stayed there long enough to make any scientific observation.

Again, thanks for the heads up.

MG

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Tony Parra is currently focused on sculpin+ling, but I opened it up a bit
to include cabezon and wolf eel because I have a suspicion these other large
bottom-dwellers also need cleaning.

 

[dwashbur]

Northwest Dive Club; View topic - Whidbey Island Critters

Jan has observed this behavior several times up here in the PNW and may have more pictures. He'd be a good one to ask about it.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Actually, Jan is working with Tony on the paper.

 

[drbill]

Remember when a scientist said that rock wrasse rarely clean (unlike their wrasse relatives the senorita). At the time I had video of them cleaning lots of halfmoon near the bottom as well as other species mid-water. I saw them doing it on almost every dive I did!

This is another example of how we divers can add new knowledge for the scientific community that may not submerge as often as we do.

 

[Honza]

So you know what to look for:

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