what is a remora fish

A remora fish is a pelagic marine fish belonging to the family Echeneidae. It is also known as a suckerfish, and it attaches itself to larger marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles, using its dorsal fin, which has 22 to 26 soft rays that act as a suction cup, creating a vacuum. The remora spends most of its life clinging to a host animal, and it is probably a mutualistic arrangement as the remora can move around on the host, removing ectoparasites and loose flakes of skin, while benefiting from the protection provided by the host and the constant flow of water across its gills. The remora is most often found offshore in the warmer parts of all oceans attached to sharks and other marine fishes and mammals. Some remoras associate with specific host species, and they are commonly found attached to sharks, manta rays, whales, turtles, and dugongs, hence the common names "sharksucker" and "whalesucker". The relationship between a remora and its host is most often taken to be one of commensalism, specifically phoresy. The remora is not considered to be a parasite, despite its being attached to the host. The remora is not generally eaten, but it is used as a means of catching large fish and sea turtles. Fishermen in countries around the world use them by attaching a line to their tails and then releasing them. The remora will then swim off and attach itself to a large fish or turtle, which can then be pulled in by a careful fisherman.