Mental wrasse (Oxycheilinus mentalis)

General data
- Main name: Mental wrasse
- Climates: Tropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: Africa, Asia
- Distribution: Indian ocean, Red sea, Gulf of Aden
Classification
- Genus: Oxycheilinus - Oxycheilinus
- Family: Labridae - Wrasses
- Order: Labriformes - Wrasses
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Oxycheilinus mentalis (mental wrasse) is a species of wrasse found in the Western Indian Ocean, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It has been known to change its colouration to match species of non-predatory parrotfish and surgeonfish. It then swims with these harmless model species and predates upon passing fish. This is a form of aggressive mimicry. Without a model fish, the mental wrasse has a reddish pink colour.