Shark sucker
📖 Overview
Usually associated with sharks but also attaches itself to other large fishes, sea turtles and even ships ; found in gill chambers, fins and body surface . Sometimes free-swimming . Younger individual is more active as parasite pickers . Feeds on parasitic copepods .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 26; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 24. Dark brownish grey in color . During the course of development, fin is transformed into a suction disc . Deeper-bodied than Echeneis naucrates .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Shark sucker is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 200 m . Subtropical; 60°N - 36°S, 180°W - 180°E
🌿 Ecology
parasitic copepods (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Shark sucker is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 129 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Shark sucker has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Brown Sucker · Brown remora · Common Remora, Sharksucker, Remora · Common Sucker · Offshore remora · Shark Pilot · Shark sucker · Shark-sucker · Short Sucker-fish · Short sucker fish · Stout Suckerfish · Stout Sucking Fish · Suck Fish · Sucker · Sucking-fish · common remora · remora · Short Suckerfish |
| 🌍CES | štítovec lodní |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig sugefisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Gemeiner Schiffshalter |
| 🌍ELL | Ρεμόρα |
| 🇫🇷French | Pilote · Rémora · Rémora commun · Rémora des Requins · Rémora noir |
| 🌍HEB | רמורה רמורה |
| 🌍ISL | Dvalfiskur |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Nagakoban · ナガコバン |
| 🌍MLT | Buwahhal · Pixxitmun · Remora · Remora komuni |
| 🌍NNO | sugefisk |
| 🌍NOB | sugefisk |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Sugefisk |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Remora |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-agarrador · Peixe-pegador · Peixe-pegajoso · Peixe-piolho · Peixe-sapato · Rêmora-comum |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенная рыба-прилипало · акулья ремора |
| 🌍SLV | Prilep |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Rémora · Sapito · Sapito Común · rémora tiburonera · Pega |
| 🌍SQI | Peshk venduze · peshku me ventuzë |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | sugfisk · remora |
| 🌍TAH | ti'aiti'auri |
| 🌍TUR | klavuz baligi · vantuz |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 短印仔魚 · 短印魚 · 短鮣 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echeneis borboniensis | Guichenot | 1863 | Synonym |
| Echeneis bourboniensis | Duméril | 1858 | Synonym |
| Echeneis nubifera | Tanaka | 1915 | Synonym |
| Echeneis parva | Gronow | 1854 | Synonym |
| Echeneis postica | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Echeneis remeligo | Guichenot | 1863 | Synonym |
| Echeneis remiligo | Guichenot | 1863 | Synonym |
| Echeneis remora | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Echeneis remoroides | Bleeker | 1855 | Synonym |
| Echeneis squalipeta | Daldorff | 1793 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 84 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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