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Mystery #3Tier 2coral reef life

Why does a big fish let a tiny cleaner fish swim right inside its mouth unharmed?

On a coral reef, a huge fish opens its jaws wide, and a tiny fish swims straight inside, right past rows of sharp teeth. One quick gulp and the little one would be gone. Yet the big fish holds its mouth open and waits patiently. Why doesn't it swallow such an easy snack?

A small blue and purple cleaner wrasse working over the head of a much larger spotted pufferfish, which holds perfectly still
Photo: Brocken Inaglory · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

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