Live sharksucker
| Live sharksucker | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Family: | Echeneidae |
| Genus: | Echeneis |
| Species: | E. naucrates
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| Binomial name | |
| Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus,1758
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Thelive sharksuckerorslender sharksucker(Echeneis naucrates) is aspeciesof marinefishin thefamilyEcheneidae, theremoras.[2][3][4][5][6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The species is considered circumtropical, as it occurs in all tropical and warm temperate waters around the world except for the eastern Pacific.[1][2]The species can be found close to the coast, as well as offshore at a maximum depth of 50 m (160 ft).[7][8]
Sharksuckers are known to temporarily attach themselves to various objects orhostsby using their modified dorsal fins. Hosts includesharks,rays,largebony fishes,sea turtles,whales,dolphins,ships, and evenscuba divers.[2]
Description
[edit]
E. naucratesis a medium-sizedfishwhich can grow up to 110 cm (43 in) length.[9]Its body is elongated and streamlined, and its lower jaw is clearlyprognathic(it projects forward well beyond the upper jaw).[3]The jaws,vomerand tongue have villiform teeth.[3] The main distinctive feature to distinguish from otherfishesis the oval-shaped sucking disc, which is a highly modified dorsal fin positioned from the top of the head to the anterior part of the body.[3]
The body background colouration is dark grey to dark brown, with a dark belly. A longitudinal stripe runs along the axis side of the body, it is always darker than its background colour with a whitish margin. Thecaudal finis black with white corners.
Diet
[edit]The remora's diet varies according to its maturity or situation (with host or not).[citation needed]
As a juvenile, it sometimes acts as acleaner fishon areef station;its diet consists of smallparasiticcrustaceanssuch ascopepods,isopods,andostracods.[10]
When attached to a host, the remora eats parasitic crustaceans, food scraps from its host's feeding activity, and even some small food captured by filtering water through its villiform teeth.[11]
Without a host, the fish stays close to the shore and can aggregate with other individuals; its diet is then composed of free-livingcrustaceans,squid,and smallfish.[11]
References
[edit]- ^abCollette, B.B.; Curtis, M.; Williams, J.T.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Pina Amargos, F (2017) [errata version of 2015 assessment]."Echeneis naucrates".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2015:e.T190393A115317934.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190393A15603110.en.Retrieved21 November2022.
- ^abcdFroese, Rainer;Pauly, Daniel (eds.)."Echeneis naucrates".FishBase.August 2019 version.
- ^abcd"Slender Suckerfish, Echeneis naucrates (Linnaeus, 1758) - Australian Museum".australianmuseum.net.au.
- ^Slender Suckerfish,Echeneis naucrates(Linnaeus, 1758).australianmuseum.net.au
- ^Sharksucker.flmnh.ufl.edu
- ^"FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Sharksucker".ufl.edu.2017-05-09.
- ^Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez, 1992. Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome.
- ^al Sakaff, H.; M. Esseen (1999)."Occurrence and distribution of fish species off Yemen (Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea)"(PDF).Naga ICLARM Q.22(1): 43–47. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-11-29.Retrieved2016-11-18.
- ^Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994).Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea.Harper Collins Publishers.
- ^Sazima, I.; R.L. Moura & M.C.M. Rodrigues (1999)."Juvenile sharksucker,Echeneis naucrates(Echeneidae), acting as a station-based cleaner fish ".Cybium.23(4): 377–380.
- ^absecurity."DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles".ffessm.fr.
External links
[edit]
- Echeneis naucratesatAustralian Museum.
- Echeneis naucratesatEncyclopedia of Life.
- Photos ofLive sharksuckeron Sealife Collection
