False cleanerfish uses camouflage to trick larger fish　ニセスジクロギンポ

Many people are being scammed by scammers. Scammers approach people pretending to be good people, reassure them, and then swindle them out of their money or steal their valuables. Among the sea creatures, there is also a scammer known as the False cleanerfish (Aspidontus taeniatus)

詐欺師により多くの人が騙されています。詐欺師は善人を装って人に近づき、安心させてからお金をだまし取ったり、貴重品を盗んだりします。海の生き物の中にもニセスジクロギンポと言う詐欺師がいます。

Bluestreak cleaner wrasse is a scavenger in the sea that swims around other fish and eats parasites on the skin of other fish. Therefore, large fish that eat small fish will not eat the wrasse that approaches.

However, False cleanerfish tricks larger fish by pretending to be a real cleaner wrasse. The Japanese False cleanerfish has a slender body, a single black line on the side of its body, and a white back and abdomen, making it look exactly like the Bluestreak cleaner wrasse. In this form, it reassures large fish, approaches them, bites their gills and skin, and runs away.

ホンソメワケベラは他の魚の近くを泳ぎ回りながら、その魚の皮膚などに付いている寄生虫などを食べる海の掃除屋です。そのため小さな魚を食べる大型魚も、近寄ってくるホンソメワケベラを食べることはありません。

ところがニセスジクロギンポはホンソメワケベラのふりをして、大型魚を騙します。ニセスジクロギンポは体が細く、体の側面に黒の一本線があり，背と腹部が白いというホンソメワケベラそっくりの姿をしています。この姿で大型魚を安心させて近づき、そのエラや皮膚をかじって逃げてしまいます

Mimicry is when living things resemble other things. Mimic creatures take the form of branches or leaves to protect themselves from enemies. On the other hand, False cleanerfish mimicry is a form of mimicry that tricks others into letting their guard down.

生き物がほかのものに姿を似せることを擬態といいます。擬態する生き物は敵から身を守るため枝や木葉の姿をしています。これに対して、ニセスジクロギンポの擬態は相手を騙し、油断させる擬態です。

False cleanerfish uses its sharp mouth to tear off the gills of large fish.

False cleanerfish can be said to be a smart fish. This is because they understand that by mimicking the Bluestreak cleaner wrasse, they are less likely to be attacked by large fish. The difference between the two is the position of the mouth. The mouth of the true cleanerfish is located at the tip, while the mouth of the false cleanerfish is directed slightly downward.

Be wary of scammers who approach you pretending to be good people.

ニセスジクロギンポは頭が良い魚と言えます。ホンソメワケベラに擬態することで、大型魚類から襲われにくと理解しているからです。両者の違いは口の位置です。ホンソメワケベラの口は先端に位置するのに対し、ニセスジクロギンポはやや下向きです。善人を装って近づいてくる詐欺師には注意しましょう。