Clean Ocean Advocate, September 2005
Institute of Coastal Education
Pacific Avenue, Wildwood
Tony Totah, 609-729-9262
The Sharksucker or Remora is a unique fish found in New Jersey’s waters during the summer. This fish is unique in that its dorsal fin has been modified as a sucking disc on top of its head (see photo). The remora uses this disc as a suction cup to attach to large fish, sea mammals, turtles, and the occasional scuba diver.
The Remora does not hurt the host to which it is attached. It is hitching a free ride and feeds on scraps the host leaves behind. This species of Remora is found from Nova Scotia to Brazil and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and can grow to nearly three feet long. Stop by the Institute of Coastal Education and see this very cool fish.
(What’s Cool at ICE and Coastal Creature Feature appear every other month. Please see last month’s newsletter to guess the August Coastal Creature Feature.)
