Live Sharksucker

Max length : 110 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 66.0 cm SL male/unsexed; max. published weight: 2.3 kg

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. May follow divers; reported to attach itself to a diver's leg. Feeds on small fishes, bits of its host's prey and host's parasites. Juveniles occasionally act as reef station-based cleaners, where they service parrotfishes. 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

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32-42; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 29 - 41.

Summary of Distribution: Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and Bermuda to Uruguay. Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)