You know, the ones that hang out and, like, eat stuff off of the shark.
2006-06-22 11:38:52 · 13 answers · asked by James H 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
The ones that actually adhere to the sharks are remoras. They're fishes belonging to order Perciformes, family Echeneidae, and they have a dorsal sucking disk with which they attach to sharks , but also to other bony fishes, turtles or marine mammals. These fish clean their "host" and feed on their leftovers.
This is what a remora looks like:
http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/images/enaucsh2.jpg
The other, more typical-looking fish with dark and light vertical stripes, are pilotfish. These also belong to order Perciformes, but to a different family, the Carangidae. Their scientific name is Naucrates ductor. They were called "pilotfish" because of the belief that they "guided" sharks. Actually, they're semi-obligate commensals of sharks, rays, other bony fishes and turtles, which means that they depend very much on them to feed on their leftovers.
This is what a pilotfish looks like:
http://www.horta.uac.pt/imagdop/Servicos/Naucrates_ductor/035_s410_31.jpg
2006-06-22 16:21:30 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Fish Attached To Sharks
2016-12-11 13:53:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remoras or suckerfish are elongate brown fish in order Perciformes and family Echeneidae. They grow up to 30-90 cm long (1-3 feet), and their distinctive dorsal fin takes the form of a modified oval sucker-like organ with slat-like structures that open and close to create suction and take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals. By sliding backward, the remora can increase the suction, or it can release itself by swimming forward.
2006-06-22 11:40:22 · answer #3 · answered by williegod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pilot Fish
2006-06-22 11:40:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the REMORA (SUCKER FISH) which remains attached to the body of the shark. In remora, the first dorsal fin is modified into an adhesive disc by means of which it attaches itself to the shark, lower jaw of remora is also modified for recieving scraps of food dropped from the meals of shark
2006-06-23 19:50:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shark Sucker Fish
2016-10-07 00:36:40 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remoras or suckerfish are elongate brown fish in order Perciformes and family Echeneidae
2006-06-22 22:52:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remora ... suckerfish
Family Echeneidae
2006-06-22 15:58:26 · answer #8 · answered by icehoundxx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As always, I bow to Calimecita and suggest she receives ten points for her answer. I am a biologist who has studied sharks, and when it comes to elasmobranch questions Calimecita is your best guess around here. Her answer to your question is, by the way, absolutely on the money. So give her ten.
2006-06-22 19:15:36 · answer #9 · answered by oputz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'the fish that hang off sharks'
2006-06-22 11:40:37 · answer #10 · answered by shehawke 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋