INNATE RECOGNITION BY HOST FISH OF THEIR CLEANING SYMBIONT

Naive damselfish, Dascyllus albisella, were tested for their initial r esponse to the Hawaiian cleaning wrasse, Labroides phthirophagus. Cont rary to some current theory, some individuals, including both lab-rear ed and wild-caught fish, showed a full 'pose' response to visual stimu li from the cleaner without prior tactile stimulation, while others fa iled to show this response even after 4 d of exposure to visual and ta ctile stimuli. These individual differences could have resulted from i nnate differences or uncontrolled variables in their experience.