PORT PHILLIP BAY


Remora 

Remora remora

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 16-20 (pairs of disc laminae); 20-27
Anal fin spines/rays: 20-25
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 26-30
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: 28-37

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
A small family of slender cylindrical fishes with the first dorsal fin modified into an oval sucking disc, used to attach to a host such as larger fishes, turtles and whales.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Echeneidae
Genus:
Remora
Species:
remora

General Description

Body moderately long, slender, head depressed, dorsal fin miodified into a sucking disc; pectoral fin rounded, pelvic fin broadly connected to the body by a membrane; anal fin with 18-28 rays. Dark brown to dark grey or greyish black, occasionally paler; pectoral and ventral fins paler near tips. To 80 cm.

Biology

Although these remoras attach to a variety of hosts, they are most often seen on sharks. They are rare in coastal waters of southern Australia.

Habitat

Pelagic in tropical and many temperate seas.

Open water

Distribution guide

Worldwide.

Species Group

Fishes › Suckerfishes

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor Midwater

Max Size

80 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Remora, Remora remora, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 24 Sep 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6452

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