Common names: sharksucker (English), rémora (Espanol)
 
Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758


Live sharksucker



Body long & slender; head disc with 23 (18-28) plates, reaches over ~center of pectoral fin;  lower gill rakers 11-16 (not including rudiments); dorsal and anal fin bases long, 2-3 times head length; dorsal rays 39 (34-42); anal rays 36 (31-41);  pectoral rays 21-24; tail fin slightly rounded.


Grey, white edged black stripe along side from tip of lower jaw through eye to tail fin, stripe broader at front; tips of dorsal, anal and tail fins white.


Size: reaches 100 cm.

Often see around reefs. Attaches to a variety of hosts, including sharks, rays, large fishes, turtles and whales, but frequently free-living.

Depth: 0-50 m.

Circumtropical; throughout our region except the Gulf of California.