I have long suspected an association between similar partners on rocky reefs because I am convinced I see shy crevice-dwelling leopard-spotted gobies much closer to lobsters than one would expect at random. These gobies could be seeking food scraps, but I have yet to see them engaging in that sort of feeding behaviour so I wonder if the main advantage is safety through proximity. A large lobster appears to keep other predators such as sea scorpions or small congers away, but is presumably too slow to catch the darting goby itself. Lobsters may well not gain anything, unless they benefit from a‘ sentinel’ effect of the gobies dashing for cover when potential predators are around.
My pal’ s bigger than you! Does the leopard-spotted goby gain some protection from the lobster’ s proximity?
Scampi at the entrance to its burrow
On the same rocky reefs and around wrecks, prawns congregate around the crevices occupied by conger eels. While congers leave their lairs to hunt, usually at night, there will be enough food residue around their homes to benefit these small guests... but do they‘ pay their way’? In the tropics, many prawns act as cleaners on fish including moray eels; however, any such interaction is uncertain here, unless observant divers know different?
There is doubtless more about these types of animal associations to discover. As observations of both combers( the grouper-like fish) and common octopuses are increasing in our waters, for example, we should keep a look out for interactions between them. There is a well-known association between another comber species and octopuses in the
Mediterranean where, unfortunately for the octopuses, the fish reveal their hiding places and are known as‘ snitches’ by fishermen hunting them.
In addition to the rather loose cohabitation arrangements described here, there are some much closer relationships, of course. The most obvious ones involve hermit crabs, with different species of sea anemones attaching to the shells they occupy. There are benefits for both parties – food and transport for the anemone, additional defence for the crab. There are also the cleaning arrangements between wrasse … lots more for future‘ Critters’. �
Paul
’ s photos and video clips capturing UK marine life stories are on Instagram @ paulnaylormarinephoto
Quite the entourage, four leopard-spotted gobies( one in crevice) around a lobster’ s lair
19