Australian Remora

Description: Greyish with dark brown to blackish mid-lateral stripe bordered by narrow white stripes above and below, from eye to caudal fin base (Ref. 26938, Ref. 90102). Body depth contained in 8-14 times in SL; caudal fin in adults almost truncate with the upper and lower lobes longer than the middle rays; first dorsal fin replaced by a transversal, laminated, oval cephalic disc with 18-28 laminae (Ref. 10970); 21-28 laminae (according to K.R. Sreenath pers. Comm, 11/2010; lecologiste@gmail.com; also in Ref. 90102) .

Dionchus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32 - 42; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 29 - 41

Most abundant remora in warm waters (Ref. 4389). Occurs near as well as far from the coast (Ref. 5217). Often found free-swimming in shallow inshore areas and around coral reefs (Ref. 26938, 58534). Attaches temporarily to a variety of hosts including sharks, rays, large bony fishes or sea turtles, whales, dolphins and also to ships. May follow divers (Ref. 9710). Feeds on small fishes, bits of its host's prey and host's parasites (Ref. 26938). Juvenile occasionally acts as reef station-based cleaners, where they service parrotfishes (Ref. 40095). Free-swimming or attached to host, most often to sharks. Feeds on zooplankton, benthic organisms and detritus (Ref. 33). Acts as cleaners of several species of reef fishes (Ref. 40095). Sometimes used by natives to aid in fishing; a line is tied to the caudal peduncle of the remora and then is released; upon attaching to another fish, the remora and its host are hauled in by the fisher (Ref. 9682).

Most abundant remora in warm waters (Ref. 4389). Occurs near as well as far from the coast (Ref. 5217). Often found free-swimming in shallow inshore areas and around coral reefs (Ref. 26938). Attaches temporarily to a variety of hosts including sharks, rays, large bony fishes or sea turtles, whales, dolphins and also to ships. May follow divers (Ref. 9710); reported to attach itself to a diver's leg (Ref. 57809). Feeds on small fishes, bits of its host's prey and host's parasites (Ref. 26938). Juveniles occasionally act as reef station-based cleaners, where they service parrotfishes (Ref. 40095). Sometimes used by natives to aid in fishing; a line is tied to the caudal peduncle of the remora and then is released; upon attaching to another fish, the remora and its host are hauled in by the fisher (Ref. 9682).

fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family