The function and maintenance of aggressive mimics: the cleaner fish - fangblenny system (2006-2011)

Aggressive mimics are predatory species, which attack unsuspecting victims that are confused by their resemblance to a harmless or mutually beneficial species. However, little is known about the nature and evolution of these intriguing impostors. In this study, I will focus on cleaner fish and their fangblenny fish mimics to provide exciting new insights into how aggressive mimics are maintained in ecosystems. I will investigate how the success of mimics is related to the relationship between models and the victims learning and perceptual abilities, using a combination of experimental and manipulative behavioural studies and in-situ non-subjective colour analyses.