Whalesucker

Remora australis

Whalesucker

This remora rides only on whales and dolphins, gripping their skin with a ridged sucking disc on top of its head. One pair was recorded clinging to the same spinner dolphin for about three months, and the species turns up year after year on dolphins around oceanic islands.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Teleostei › Carangiformes › Echeneidae › Remora

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 126850.

FAQ

How deep does the Whalesucker live?
The Whalesucker (Remora australis) is typically found at 1–50 m.
Is the Whalesucker dangerous to divers?
The Whalesucker is harmless to divers.
How big does the Whalesucker get?
The Whalesucker grows to about 76 cm.