A Day at the Turtle Spa
Over time, sea turtles and other marine animals accumulate algae and small parasites. But without hands to pick them off, what’s a sea turtle to do? Call in the fish! In Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) – or honu – regularly visit “turtle cleaning stations.” The sea turtle gets a relaxing day at the spa, while convict tangs (Acanthurus triostegus) and other fish get to chow down on the parasites. This relationship is just one example of a type of symbiosis in the ocean, called mutualism, in which animals of different species form relationships that benefit them both.
![A sea turtle looks down form the surface of the water](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation3-1000.jpg)
![A sea turtle swims downward](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation9-600.jpg)
![A sea turtle swimming](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation4-600.jpg)
![An overhead shot of a sea turtle](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation19-600.jpg)
![Turtles swim over rocks, one ha yellow fish picking at its shell](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation11-600.jpg)
![Turtles swim over rocks, one ha yellow fish picking at its shell](/media/mag/5/hihwnms-turtlecleaningstation12-1000.jpg)
Photos: Nick Zachar/NOAA