In the area around the Isthmus of Santa Catalina Island Rock Wrasse (Halichoeres semicinctus) has been observed as a cleaner fish. There are not a lot of Senoritas here at this moment and the Rock Wrasse are acting like cleaners for a whole host of other fishes. There is one paper from the 70's from fish and wildlife that seems to claim that this is very uncommon and it is most likely on individual responsible foe this. I am studying on Catalina for the semester and might pursue this as my research topic. I attached the file.
Yes, Elizabeth, Ted Hobson published those observations many years ago. Observations that were made in the cove at the Wrigley Marine Science Center - where you are right now. I know of no other original literature on rock wrasse cleaning. Cleaning behavior by CA fishes is covered in Chapter 21 (by John McCosker) in the book Ecology of Marine Fishes: California and Adjacent Waters edited by Allen, Pondella, & Horn (2006).
I think you'll find cleaning behaviour is much more common than generally appreciated once you start looking for it. Here in New Zealand it is not uncommon to see 2-3 species of trypterygiid cleaning conger and moray eels at the same time, its not uncommon to observe Chromis and other reef fishes soliciting cleaning from crested blennies (Parablennius laticlavius) and I have observed initial phase Notolabrus celidotus and N. cinctus cleaning a wide range of species. Have fun with it. I remember seeing footage of Garibaldi cleaning manta rays off Baja California once.
Here in Corsica, Symphodus melanocercus is the Mediterranean cleaner fish. However, juveniles of Symphodus ocellatus and Coris julis, two others wrasses, adopt commonly a cleaning behaviour. Others species can do the same.
Seasonal and geographical differences in cleaner fish activity in the Mediterranean Sea
Article Seasonal and geographical differences in cleaner fish activi...
The Link for pdf.
http://hmr.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1007/s101520100084?site=hmr.biomedcentral.com
Yes, Elizabeth, Ted Hobson published those observations many years ago. Observations that were made in the cove at the Wrigley Marine Science Center - where you are right now. I know of no other original literature on rock wrasse cleaning. Cleaning behavior by CA fishes is covered in Chapter 21 (by John McCosker) in the book Ecology of Marine Fishes: California and Adjacent Waters edited by Allen, Pondella, & Horn (2006).
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