remora
Disc-headed clinger
A remora is a fish with a specialized sucker disk on its head that allows it to attach to sharks, whales, sea turtles, and ships.
The attachment provides the remora with transportation and scraps from the host's meals.
The relationship is sometimes used as a metaphor for a hanger-on or dependent: He followed the CEO around like a remora.
Fish that attaches to hosts
- sharksuckerFish that attaches to hosts
- cobiaLarge marine gamefish
- pilotfishFish following large sharks
- dorsal finFish's rear stabilizer
cleaner fish · shark · manta · whale · ray · turtle · dugong · marlin
Pulling via pressure difference
latch · secure · vacuum seal · holdfast · clasper · friction · pressure differential
Opportunistic social dependent
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
clinger · dependent · sycophant · opportunist · tagalong · barnacle · sponger · follower
Neutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- cleanerAgent that removes dirt
- interspeciesBetween different species
food scraps · protection · transport · free rider · mutual benefit · coexistence · symbiont
Fish with skeletal fin supports
- bony fishFish with calcified skeleton
- teleostBony, ray-finned fish
- marine biologyStudy of sea organisms
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
species · classification · genus · family
suckerfish
Fish that attaches to hosts
- sharksuckerFish that attaches to hosts
- cobiaLarge marine gamefish
- pilotfishFish following large sharks
dorsal fin · cleaner fish · shark · manta · whale · ray · turtle · dugong · marlin · tuna
suction
Pulling via pressure difference
grip · latch · secure · vacuum seal · holdfast · clasper · friction · pressure differential
hanger-on
Opportunistic social dependent
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
leech · clinger · dependent · sycophant · opportunist · tagalong · barnacle · sponger · follower · free rider
commensalism
Neutral host, benefiting guest
interspecies · food scraps · protection · transport · free rider · mutual benefit · coexistence · symbiont
ray-finned
Fish with skeletal fin supports
- bony fishFish with calcified skeleton
- teleostBony, ray-finned fish
- marine biologyStudy of sea organisms
ichthyology · species · classification · genus · family
- fishcod, salmon, bass, perch, eels
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- bottom feederscatfish, loach, sturgeon, suckerfish, flounder
- fluid feedersaphid, mosquitoes, leeches, aphids, butterflies
- species interactionsmutualism, symbiosis, commensalism, parasitism, predation
- symbiontsclownfish, mycorrhizae, lichens, cyanobacteria, pilot fish
remoratuna
Large edible ocean fish
marlin · sailfish · mako shark · swordfish · barracuda
remoraapex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
great white shark · orca · solitary hunter · tiger shark · ambush predator
remorahost
One receiving guests
apex predator · shark · whale · manta ray · sea turtle