Have you ever been so tired you wished someone could carry you? When going on a long walk, do you wish someone could give you a ride to your destination? Well, this certain fish called a remora suckerfish has found a way to avoid this problem by sticking to other sea creatures. This behavior of riding other animals, similar to a hitch-hiking behavior seen in humans, has many positive outcomes for the suckerfish itself and the animal it latches on to (2).
Although its behavior is out of the ordinary, this fish species resembles a typical fish. It is long and skinny, with a long fin on the top and bottom of its body. It has two pectoral fins, which are found on either side of the fish and Its tail fin is similar to other fish species. The one main appearance that separates this fish from others is its flat head that almost looks like a disc. This feature is what allows the fish to attach itself, almost like the action of a suction cup, to the body of another animal.
Even though it is somewhat complicated, the relationship between the suckerfish and the host animal can be very intriguing as we observe benefits for both animals. The suckerfish mainly feeds on smaller food scraps and animals like zooplankton (2). But they also eat parasites that the host animal may have (1). This action feeds the suckerfish and protects the host animal from harmful parasites and infections. On the other hand, while these suckerfish protect their host animal, the animal is transporting the suckerfish to new locations (1). Without spending energy swimming to new areas, just like us walking to our destination, the suckerfish can focus on finding their next meal. Suckerfish use what is feasibly one of the “laziest” forms for finding food and moving around their environment. Still, the behavior is possibly one of the most creative behaviors observed in marine organisms.
- Norman, Bradley M., et al. “Three-Way Symbiotic Relationships in Whale Sharks.” CSIRO PUBLISHING, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 9 Mar. 2021, https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/pc20043.
- Solleliet-Ferreira, S., et al. “Sicklefin Devilray and Common Remora Prey Jointly on Baitfish – Environmental Biology of Fishes.” SpringerLink, Springer Netherlands, 8 July 2020, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-020-00990-9.
