: any of several small fish that clean larger fish of parasites and dead tissue
especially
: cleaner wrasse
So-called cleaner fish are among the best-known examples of mutualism in nature. These small fish eat parasites off the skin of larger fish, and it's a win-win situation—the small fish gets food and protection from predators while the larger one stays clean and healthy. —
Henry Fountain, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2009
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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