A common feeding association among reef fishes involves nuclear and follower species, where the former disturbs the bottom, during which the latter opportunistically feeds on items exposed. Here, we report such interactions between Western Australian common octopuses (Octopus (cf) tetricus) and brown-spotted wrasse (Notolabrus parilus) observed on eight occasions while snorkeling at four temperate-water reefs along the coast of Perth in Western Australia. We compare the interactions observed to other octopus-fish nuclear–follower associations known. In general, these interactions usually benefit the follower species and could play a significant role on reef trophodynamics.

珊瑚鱼之间常见的摄食关系涉及核鱼和跟随鱼，前者扰乱海底，在此期间后者会机会性地以暴露的物品为食。在这里，我们报告了在西澳大利亚珀斯海岸沿线的四个温带珊瑚礁浮潜时八次观察到的西澳大利亚普通章鱼（章鱼（cf）tetricus）和褐斑濑鱼（Notolabrus parilus）之间的这种相互作用。我们将观察到的相互作用与其他已知的章鱼 - 鱼核 - 跟随者协会进行比较。一般来说，这些相互作用通常有利于追随者物种，并可能对珊瑚礁营养动力学发挥重要作用。