A juvenile wartskin angler (A. maculatus) hiding amongst the substrate.In the fish-eat-fish world of the coral reefs, it can sometimes be beneficial to look like something you’re not. This strategy, known as mimicry, is employed by a wide variety of marine fish and other organisms in order to garner some sort of survival edge. Not only is mimicry exhibited by numerous fish species, but it also takes on many different, fascinating forms, such as: A harmless or helpless fish imitating a dangerous or distasteful organism A predatory or otherwise dangerous fish imitating a harmless one Using ingenious camouflage to deceive predators or prey items Let’s explore some of these mimicry styles a little further with some examples of species that put them into practice. That’s right, I’m bad! On the coral reefs, there are many examples of innocuous marine fish pretending to be much more nasty or noxious than they really are. Take the saddled filefish (Paraluteres prionurus) for instance. This fielfish is almost identical in body shape, coloration, and patterning to the saddled toby (Canthigaster valentine), a puffer species that contains deadly tetrodotoxin in its tissues. Wary predators are apt to leave it alone despite the fact that it’s actually edible. A juvenile P More: The Many Faces of Mimicry in Marine Fish… More:
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