Remora
Echeneidae sp.
Where is it found?
Marine
Diet and foraging method
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Primarily an ectoparasite on a host's body (rays, sharks, whales, rays, turtles) but also eats plankton, fish, remains of host's food
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Key adaptations
The Remora has a large flat sucker on top of its head which it uses to attach itself onto larger marine animals such as sharks, rays, sea turtles and marine mammals. It rides around attached to its host, taking advantage of any remains of their prey, and eating ectoparasites on their skin and gills.
Social organisation and mating system
N/A
Did you know that...?
Some small species of Remora have been found clinging onto the insides of the mouths of large sharks!
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Spearfish remora". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spearfish_remora.jpg#/media/File:Spearfish_remora.jpg
"Spearfish remora". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spearfish_remora.jpg#/media/File:Spearfish_remora.jpg
