This fish mimics the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, both in coloration and in sinuous swimming behavior, which helps protect it from being eaten by predators and enables it to get close to fish waiting to be cleaned. Instead of picking their parasites, though, the mimic abuses the customer's trust by biting off a scale, chunk of fin or piece of skin and then zipping away. Like the similar species Aspidontus dussumieri, it often backs into holes in rocks and coral while awaiting a new victim.
A bit blurred from the fish's rapid movement, the photo below shows the two recurved fangs on the lower jaw, showing why these are often commonly referred to as sabretooth or fangtooth blennies.
Created 5 December 2017