Remora

ID points

• An oval sucking disc on top of the head, formed from the dorsal fin
• A white-edged black stripe runs the whole length of the body
• Often rides upside down on sharks, turtles or boat hulls

Basics

Family

Echeneidae

Length

40–80 cm

Depth

0-50 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Temperate & polar · Open ocean

Distribution

Open tropical and temperate seas worldwide

Habitat

Open ocean, attached to large hosts

Diet

Scraps from its host, parasites

Easily confused with

CornetfishBody long and thin like a tube, the snout making up a third of itFirefish GobyFront half creamy white, shading to orange-red at the rearBeltfishBody thin and long like a silver ribbon, with no tail fin

Fun fact

The remora carries an oval sucking disc on top of its head, evolved from the dorsal fin, and it grips sharks, mantas and turtles firmly enough to hitch a ride while feeding on the scraps and parasites of its host. The hold is so strong that people once used remoras to fish for sea turtles.