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Remora

This article is about the remora family. For the genus, seeRemora (genus).For the rescue vehicle, seeAustralian Submarine Rescue Vehicle Remora.

Theremora(/ˈrɛmərə/), sometimes calledsuckerfishorsharksucker,is any of a family (Echeneidae) ofray-finned fishin the orderCarangiformes.[4]Depending on species, they grow to 30–110 cm (12–43 in) long. Their distinctive firstdorsal finstake 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.[5]The disk is made up of stout, flexible membranes that can be raised and lowered to generate suction.[6]By sliding backward, the remora can increase the suction, or it can release itself by swimming forward. Remoras sometimes attach to small boats, and have been observed attaching to divers as well. They swim well on their own, with a sinuous, or curved, motion.

Remora
Temporal range:LateOligocene– Recent[1]
Common remora,Remora remora
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Carangoidei
Family: Echeneidae
Rafinesque,1810[2]
Genera[3]
Synonyms

Echeneididae

Characteristics

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Remora front dorsal fins have evolved to enable them to adhere by suction to smooth surfaces, and they spend most of their lives clinging to ahost animalsuch as awhale,turtle,sharkorray.It is probably amutualisticarrangement 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.[7]Although many believe that remoras feed off particulate matter from the host's meals, some posit alternative theories; they claim their diets to becomposed primarily of host feces.[8]Further research is needed to validate the extent of this alternative feeding mechanism.

Habitat

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Some remoras, such as thisEcheneis naucrates,may attach themselves to scuba divers.

Remoras aretropicalopen-ocean dwellers, but are occasionally found intemperateor coastal waters if they have attached to large fish that have wandered into these areas. In the mid-Atlantic Ocean,spawning usually takes place in June and July; in theMediterranean Sea,it occurs in August and September. The sucking disc begins to show when the young fish are about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. When the remora reaches about 3 cm (1.2 in), the disc is fully formed and the remora can then attach to other animals. The remora's lower jaw projects beyond the upper, and the animal lacks aswim bladder.[9]

Some remoras associate with specific host species. They are commonly found attached to sharks,manta rays,whales, turtles, anddugongs,hence the common names "sharksucker" and "whalesucker". Smaller remoras also fasten onto fish such astunaandswordfish,and some of the smallest remoras travel in the mouths or gills of large manta rays,ocean sunfish,swordfish andsailfish.

The relationship between a remora and its host is most often taken to be one ofcommensalism,specificallyphoresy.

While some of the relationships are mutualistic, it is believed that dolphins with remoras attached do not benefit from the relationship. The attachment of the remora increases the dolphin'sdrag,which increases the energy needed for swimming. The remora is also thought to irritate the skin of the dolphin.[10]

Physiology

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Research into thephysiologyof the remora has been of significant benefit to the understanding ofventilationcosts in fish.

Remoras, like many other fishes, have two different modes of ventilation. Ram ventilation[11]is the process in which at higher speeds, the remora uses the force of the water moving past it to create movement of fluid in the gills. At lower speeds, the remora will use a form of active ventilation,[11]in which the fish actively moves fluid through its gills. In order to use active ventilation, a fish must actively use energy to move the fluid; however, determining this energy cost is normally complicated due to the fish's movement when using either method. As a result, the remora has proved invaluable in finding this cost difference (since they will stick to a shark or tube, and hence remain stationary despite the movement, or lack thereof, of water). Experimental data from studies on remora found that the associated cost for active ventilation created a 3.7–5.1% increased energy consumption in order to maintain the same quantity of fluid flow the fish obtained by using ram ventilation.[12]

Other research into the remora's physiology came about as a result of studies across multiple taxa, or using the remora as an out-group for certain evolutionary studies. Concerning the latter case, remoras were used as an outgroup when investigatingtetrodotoxinresistance in remoras, pufferfish, and related species, finding remoras (specificallyEcheneis naucrates) had a resistance of 6.1–5.5×10−8M.[13]

Use for fishing

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Some cultures use remoras to catch turtles. A cord or rope is fastened to the remora's tail, and when a turtle is sighted, the fish is released from the boat; it usually heads directly for the turtle and fastens itself to the turtle's shell, and then both remora and turtle are hauled in. Smaller turtles can be pulled completely into the boat by this method, while larger ones are hauled within harpooning range. This practice has been reported throughout theIndian Ocean,especially from eastern Africa nearZanzibarandMozambique,[14]and from northern Australia nearCape YorkandTorres Strait.[15][16]

Similar reports come from Japan and from the Americas. Some of the first records of the "fishing fish" in the Western literature come from the accounts of the second voyage ofChristopher Columbus.However,Leo Wienerconsiders the Columbus accounts to beapocryphal:what was taken for accounts of the Americas may have been, in fact, notes Columbus derived from accounts of the East Indies, his desired destination.[17]

Mythology

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See also:Echeneis

In ancient times, the remora was believed to stop a ship from sailing. In Latin,remorameans "delay", while the genus nameEcheneiscomes from Greek ἔχειν,echein( "to hold" ) and ναῦς,naus( "a ship" ). In a notable account byPliny the Elder,the remora is blamed for the defeat ofMark Antonyat theBattle of Actiumand, indirectly, for the death ofCaligula.[18]A modern version of the story is given byJorge Luis BorgesinBook of Imaginary Beings(1957).

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Timeline

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QuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleoceneEcheneisQuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleocene

See also

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References

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  1. ^Friedman, Matt, et al. "An early fossil remora (Echeneoidea) reveals the evolutionary assembly of the adhesion disc." Proc. R. Soc. B 280.1766 (2013): 20131200.
  2. ^Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014)."Family-group names of Recent fishes".Zootaxa.3882(2): 001–230.doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1.PMID25543675.
  3. ^Eschmeyer, William N.;Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.)."Genera in the family Echeneidae".Catalog of Fishes.California Academy of Sciences.Retrieved16 November2019.
  4. ^J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016).Fishes of the World(5th ed.). Wiley. p. 384.ISBN978-1-118-34233-6.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-04-08.Retrieved2019-11-16.
  5. ^"Sharksucker fish's strange disc explained".Natural History Museum. 28 January 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 1 February 2013.Retrieved5 February2013.
  6. ^Beer, Amy-Jane. Derek Hall. (2012).The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Marine Fish & Sea Creatures.Leicestershire: Lorenz Books. p. 235.ISBN978-0-7548-2290-5.
  7. ^Jackson, John (30 November 2012)."How does the Remora develop its sucker?".National History Museum.Retrieved2 January2016.
  8. ^Williams, E. H.; Mignucci-Giannoni, A. A.; Bunkley-Williams, L.; Bonde, R. K.; Self-Sullivan, C.; Preen, A.; Cockcroft, V. G. (2003). "Echeneid-sirenian associations, with information on sharksucker diet".Journal of Fish Biology.63(5): 1176.Bibcode:2003JFBio..63.1176W.CiteSeerX10.1.1.619.4020.doi:10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00236.x.
  9. ^Froese, Rainer;Pauly, Daniel (eds.)."Family Echeneididae".FishBase.August 2019 version.
  10. ^Weihs, Daniel; Fish, Frank E.; Nicastro, Anthony J. (11 June 2007). "Mechanics of Remora Removal by Dolphin Spinning".Marine Mammal Science.23(3): 707–714.Bibcode:2007MMamS..23..707W.doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00131.x.
  11. ^abWillmer, Pat; Stone, Graham; Johnston, Ian (2009-03-12).Environmental Physiology of Animals.John Wiley & Sons.ISBN978-1-4443-0922-5.
  12. ^Steffensen, J. F.; Lomholt, J. P. (1983-03-01)."Energetic cost of active branchial ventilation in the sharksucker,Echeneis naucrates".Journal of Experimental Biology.103(1): 185–192.doi:10.1242/jeb.103.1.185.ISSN0022-0949.PMID6854201.
  13. ^Kidokoro, Yoshiaki; Grinnell, Alan D.; Eaton, Douglas C. (1974). "Tetrodotoxin sensitivity of muscle action potentials in pufferfishes and related fishes".Journal of Comparative Physiology.89:59–72.doi:10.1007/BF00696163.S2CID33178106.
  14. ^Gudger, E. W. (1919)."On the Use of the Sucking-Fish for Catching Fish and Turtles: Studies inEcheneisorRemora,II., Part 1 ".The American Naturalist.53(627): 289–311.doi:10.1086/279716.JSTOR2455925.
  15. ^Gudger, E. W. (1919)."On the Use of the Sucking-Fish for Catching Fish and Turtles: Studies inEcheneisorRemora,II., Part 2 ".The American Naturalist.53(628): 446–467.doi:10.1086/279724.JSTOR2456185.
  16. ^MacGillivray, John (1852).Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Commanded By the Late Captain Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. etc. During the Years 1846–1850.Vol. 2. London: Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.(Dr. Gudger's accounts are more authoritative, but this source is noted as an early account that Gudger appears to have missed.)
  17. ^Wiener, Leo(1921)."Once more the sucking-fish".The American Naturalist.55(637): 165–174.doi:10.1086/279802.JSTOR2456418.S2CID85369826.
  18. ^Pliny the Elder."Book 32, Chapter 1".Natural History.(cited inGudger, E. W. (1930). "Some old time figures of the shipholder,EcheneisorRemora,holding the ship ".Isis.13(2): 340–352.doi:10.1086/346461.JSTOR224651.S2CID143773548.)
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