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Irregular schooling behavior and abandonment of mimicry by the Sabertooth Blenny (Blenniidae) in Cabo Pulmo National Park, Gulf of California, Mexico

G. Galland,O. Aburto‐Oropeza,P. Hastings

Published 2011 in Coral reefs

ABSTRACT

Plagiotremus azaleus (the Sabertooth Blenny; Fig. 1a) is an obligate scale-eating blenny (Hobson 1968) endemic to and widespread in the tropical eastern Pacific. Like many members of Tribe Nemophini (Blenniidae), P. azaleus typically relies on mimicry to gain access to potential prey fishes (Smith-Vaniz 1976). Throughout its range, the model of this aggressive mimic is the initial phase of Thalassoma lucasanum (the Cortez Rainbow Wrasse). At several sites throughout the Gulf of California, we have observed P. azaleus in its typical mimic capacity, resembling its model in both appearance and behavior. On these reefs, P. azaleus is significantly outnumbered by T. lucasanum , with an average of more than 160 wrasses per blenny (2009 belt transect survey data). Distinguishing between the two is not difficult as the blennies are more slender and utilize anguilliform rather than labriform swimming, as in the wrasses. This typical difference in densities is not surprising given the necessary prevalence of the model and scarcity of the mimic in evolutionarily stable aggressive mimicry systems.Insummer and fall 2010, at reef sites in Cabo Pulmo National Park (CPNP), we observed several aggregations of P. azaleus ranging in numberfrom10to20individualsandonegroupofwellover100blennies(Fig.1b).Incontrasttoourobservationselsewhere,theseblenniesgreatlyoutnumbered T. lucasanum , did not school with it, and did not display the dark coloration typical of individuals engaged in mimicry (Fig. Instead, blennies from these groups aggressively attacked large fishes, including top predators such as Mycteroperca rosacea (Leopard Grouper)

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