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Sharksuckers were well known to the ancient Greeks, who greatly disliked them. They believed that the Echeneis naucrates had mysterious and magical powers, and were capable of slowing down or even stopping their ships (Debelius 1997).

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Echeneis naucrates are not listed in IUCN, CITES appendices, or the United States Endangered Species Act list.

Sharksuckers are very common in various oceans. They interact with many other organisms and depend on them for survival (Tarleton 1903).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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Sharksuckers attach with their powerful sucking disc to the bottoms of boats and occasionally to swimmers, causing damage to the boat and maybe even sinking it if the damage is severe enough. Even though very few instances were reported where Echeneis naucrates attached to humans, one can imagine how extremely painful it would be to have the numerous sharp ridges of the sucker clinging onto the human body (Debelius 1997).

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Benefits

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In the past Echeneis naucrates have been used as an aid in fishing. The fishermen tied lines to the remora and then released them into the deep sea. Since sharksuckers are always on the lookout to attach to a host, they behaved in the same matter when the fishermen dropped them into the water. When the remora found a suitable host and attached to it, the fishermen would haul the line, pulling the sharsucker along with its host onto land. Using E. naucrates as bait is a very intelligent and quick way of capturing bigger edible fish that the remora clings to. This benefits humans because normally hard-to-catch sea organisms are acquired easily (Humann 1994).

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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The usual diet of sharksuckers is composed of scraps of food that are lost or rejected by the large host animal it is attached to. The fish also feed on small crustacean parasites that invade the skin of the host, and supplement their diet with other free living small crustacea, fishes, crabs and squid (Field 1998).

In captivity, the fish usually remain stationary on the bottom with the head slightly raised, and will rise to the surface to take pieces of clam or fish from the hand (Tarleton 1903).

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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Sharksuckers, also known as remora, are commonly found in all warm seas. Sharksuckers have been found in the Western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia, Canada through Bermuda and the Gulf of Mexico, to Uruguay. They are found in the Mediterranean Sea. Their presence has also been reported in the Pacific Ocean, north to San Francisco, and Indian Ocean (Tarleton 1903).

Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Echeneis nacurates are often present in shallow inshore brackish areas, as well as around coral reefs. They are found at depths ranging from 20-50 meters, which is where the coral reefs are located (Humann 1994).

There have also been sightings of E. nacurates near Long Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and traveling up the Hudson River attached to a host (Smith 1997).

Aquatic Biomes: reef ; rivers and streams; coastal

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Morphology

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Echeneis naucrates can be easily spotted due to the sucking disc on top of its head. Its sucking organ consists of numerous pairs of crests, which originated from a highly modified spiny dorsal fin. This sucking disc is capable of producing a strong vacuum that the species uses to attach to their hosts. The fish is usually 11 or 12 times as long as it is wide, and about five and a half times the length of its head. The slim body usually has a dark stripe on the side with narrower pale edges (Field 1998). The sharksucker's tail is pointed, and the jaw is protruded. Echeneis naucrates' pectoral and ventral fins are dark in color, and the belly is a dark brownish color. The dorsal and anal fins are black, and are outlined with a lighter shade. Sharksuckers can reach approximately 100 centimeters in length, yet smaller ones are found more frequently. Adult females and males are difficult to distinguish. After the formation of the sucking disc, the young start to resemble the adults (Bigelow 1953).

Average mass: 2.01 g.

Other Physical Features: bilateral symmetry

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Not a lot is known about the reproduction patterns of sharksuckers. Spawning occurs in the warm seasons, spring and early summer in most of its range, and during the autumn in the Mediterranean. The sexes are separate, sperm and eggs develop in male and female individuals. In males, sperm passes from the testis to the outside by a specially developed duct (Lagler et al. 1962). Eggs are fertilized externally then enclosed in a hard shell, which protects them from damage and drying. The eggs can still hatch after they have been washed onto the shore, due to the protective shell that forms around them. Eggs are large, pelagic and spherical in shape. Newly-hatched E. naucrates are 4.7-7.5 mm long, have a large yolk sac, non-pigmented eyes, and an incompletely formed body. Immature fish live freely for approximately one year until they are about 3 cm in length, which is when they attach themselves to a host fish. When the newly-hatched E. naucrates are still developing, the sucking device begins forming. Also, the fish develop small teeth on the upper jaw, and large teeth on the lower jaw. The fish reach sexual maturity within three to five years (Lagler et al. 1962).

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Kowerska, A. 2002. "Echeneis naucrates" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echeneis_naucrates.html
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Anna Kowerska, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Diseases and Parasites

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Dionchus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Recorder
Allan Palacio
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Trophic Strategy

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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).
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Susan M. Luna
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Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32 - 42; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 29 - 41
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Cristina V. Garilao
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Diagnostic Description

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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) .
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Biology

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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).
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Importance

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

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分布於全世界溫暖之各海域。台灣周邊海域均有。
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利用

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可以供食用,但肉質並不很好,反而是長印魚可以吸附在大魚身體上的特異生態,使得它深受大型水族館的歡迎。
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描述

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體極為延長,頭部扁平,向後漸成圓柱狀,頂端有由第一背鰭變形而成的吸盤,其鰭條由盤中央向兩側裂生成為鰭瓣(laminae)約有21-28個;尾柄細,前端圓柱狀,後端漸側扁。吻平扁,前端略尖。口大,口裂寬,不可伸縮,下頜前突;上下頜、鋤骨、腭骨及舌上均具齒。體被小圓鱗,除頭部及吸盤無鱗外,全身均被鱗。背鰭兩個,第一背鰭變形而成吸盤,第二背鰭和臀鰭相對;腹鰭胸位,小形;胸鰭尖圓;尾鰭尖長。體色棕黃或黑色,體側經常有一暗色水平狹帶,較眼徑為寬,由下頜端經眼達尾鰭基底。
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棲地

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大洋性魚種,通常單獨活動於近海之淺水處,也會吸附在大魚或海龜等宿主身上,隨著宿主四處游盪,宿主的變化很大,鯨、鯊、海龜、翻車魚,甚至於小船都可能是寄宿的對象,或隨潛水夫活動。以大魚的殘餘食物、體外寄生蟲為食,或者自行捕捉淺海的無脊椎動物。
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Live sharksucker

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The live sharksucker or slender sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) is a species of marine fish in the family Echeneidae, the remoras.[2][3][4][5][6]

Distribution and habitat

The species is considered as circumtropical, as it occurs in all tropical and warm temperate waters around the world, except for the eastern Pacific.[1][2] The species can be found close to the coast, as well as offshore at a maximum depth of 50 m (160 ft).[7][8]

A live sharksucker is known to attach itself temporarily by its modified dorsal fin used as a sucking disc to various hosts, such as sharks, rays, large bony fishes, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, ships, and even sometimes scubadivers.[2]

Description

Echeneis naucrates

E. naucrates is a medium-sized fish which can grow up to 110 cm (43 in) length.[9] Its body is elongated and streamlined, and its lower jaw is clearly prognathic (it projects forward well beyond the upper jaw).[3] The jaws, vomer and tongue have villiform teeth.[3] The main distinctive feature to distinguish from other fishes is the oval-shaped sucking disc, which is a highly modified dorsal fin positioned from the top of the head to the anterior part of the body.[3]

The body background colouration is dark grey to dark brown, with a dark belly. A longitudinal stripe runs along the axis side of the body, it is always darker than its background colour with a whitish margin. The caudal fin is black with white corners.

Diet

The remora's diet varies according to its maturity or situation (with host or not).

As a juvenile, it sometimes acts as a cleaner fish on reef station and its diet consists of small parasitic crustaceans living on the fishes' bodies, like copepods, isopods, and ostracods.[10]

With a host, the live sharksucker eats parasitic crustaceans from the latter, food scraps from the feeding activity of its host, or some small food caught by filtering the water through its villiform teeth while the navigating on its host.[11]

Without a host, the fish stays close to the shore and can aggregate with other individuals; its diet is then composed of free-living crustaceans, squid, and small fishes.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Collette, B.B.; Curtis, M.; Williams, J.T.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Pina Amargos, F (2017) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Echeneis naucrates". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T190393A115317934. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190393A15603110.en. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Echeneis naucrates" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. ^ a b c d "Slender Suckerfish, Echeneis naucrates (Linnaeus, 1758) - Australian Museum". australianmuseum.net.au.
  4. ^ Slender Suckerfish, Echeneis naucrates (Linnaeus, 1758). australianmuseum.net.au
  5. ^ Sharksucker. flmnh.ufl.edu
  6. ^ "FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Sharksucker". ufl.edu. 2017-05-09.
  7. ^ Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez, 1992. Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome..
  8. ^ al Sakaff, H.; M. Esseen (1999). "Occurrence and distribution of fish species off Yemen (Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea)" (PDF). Naga ICLARM Q. 22 (1): 43–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-29. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  9. ^ Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994). Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers.
  10. ^ Sazima, I.; R.L. Moura & M.C.M. Rodrigues (1999). "Juvenile sharksucker, Echeneis naucrates (Echeneidae), acting as a station-based cleaner fish". Cybium. 23 (4): 377–380.
  11. ^ a b security. "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". ffessm.fr.

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Live sharksucker: Brief Summary

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The live sharksucker or slender sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) is a species of marine fish in the family Echeneidae, the remoras.

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Description

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Often found free-swimming in shallow inshore waters. Attaches temporarily to a variety of hosts including sharks, rays, large bony fishes or sea turtles, whales, dolphins and also to ships. 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 fisherman (Ref. 9682).

Reference

Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2023). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (02/2023).

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Diet

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Feeds on small fishes, bits of its host's prey and host's parasites

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North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Distribution

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circumtropical; Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda to Uruguay

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North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Habitat

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nektonic

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North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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Habitat

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Most abundant remora in warm waters. Occurs near as well as far from the coast. Often found free-swimming in shallow inshore areas and around coral reefs. Attaches temporarily to a variety of hosts including sharks, rays, large bony fishes or sea turtles, whales, dolphins and also to ships.

Reference

North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)

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