| The colorful wrasse is a close cousin of the
parrotfish. There are many different kinds of wrasses found on coral reefs.
Most are small, but a few grow to more than seven feet. Some wrasses play
a special role in the coral city. These are called "cleaners"
because they eat unwanted animals that have attached themselves to the bodies
of other fish. When being cleaned, the wrasses's customers will even open
their mouths and allow the wrasse to swim in without danger of being eaten!
At night, you will seldom see a wrasse on the reef because they bury themselves
in the sand to sleep. |