Cleaning by the occasional cleaner Diplodus argenteus (Perciformes: Sparidae) in south Brazil: why so few client species?

Abstract

Here I record the cleaning activity of the occasional cleaner Diplodus argenteus at rocky reefs off southern Brazil. Diplodus argenteus juveniles are referred to as occasional cleaners, but there is no further description of their cleaning activity in the literature. Only two fish species were here recorded as clients, which I hypothesize to be related to a lack of visual attractiveness of D. argenteus cleaning services.