Remora

Remora is a common name for a family of marine ray-finned fishes in the family Echeneidae, also called suckerfish or sharksuckers.

Remora is a common name for a family of marine ray-finned fishes in the family Echeneidae, also called suckerfish or sharksuckers. They are known for a suction disk on the head that lets them attach to larger animals, including sharks, rays, turtles, whales, and ships. Remoras live mainly in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide and feed on food scraps and parasites from their hosts.

Classification

Remoras are a family of ray-finned fishes in the family Echeneidae and are placed in the order Carangiformes. Some older sources classify them differently, but the modern sources provided describe them as Echeneidae in Carangiformes. The family is usually described as containing eight species.

Physical characteristics

Remoras are typically thin, elongated, dark-coloured fishes with a long, flattened head. They range in length from about 30 to 110 cm, depending on the species. Their suction disk is a modified dorsal fin that helps them cling to a host.

Behaviour and ecology

Remoras are famous for hitchhiking on larger animals and occasionally ships. The relationship is generally described as commensal, with remoras gaining transport, protection, and access to food while the host is usually not harmed. They feed on food scraps from their hosts and may also consume external parasites and other small organisms.

Distribution and habitat

Remoras occur in tropical and subtropical marine waters around the world. Different species may specialize in different hosts, including billfishes, whales, manta rays, and sea turtles.