Suckerfish: The Ultimate Sea Hitchhikers
Imagine a scenario where a group of fish cling tightly to a humpback whale, only to release their grip just as the whale breaches the ocean's surface. Moments later, they're all back on board, hurtling together off the coast of southeast Queensland. This captivating footage of suckerfish, captured by marine scientist Dr. Olaf Meynecke, reveals a fascinating relationship between these fish and the whales.
Dr. Meynecke explains that remora, the scientific name for suckerfish, possess an extraordinary ability to sense changes in speed and water depth. Their agility during rides with whales is truly remarkable. Remora, known for their long, slender bodies growing between 30-90cm, have evolved a unique feature: a suction disc instead of a dorsal fin. This adaptation allows them to attach themselves to larger marine animals, earning them nicknames like 'sharksucker' or 'whalesucker'.
Australia is home to several species of remora, which are known to attach themselves to sharks, turtles, whales, dolphins, and even humans. Despite their intriguing nature, studying remora is challenging due to their rapid movement. However, the footage provides valuable insights into their behavior.
Dr. Meynecke suggests that remora might increase the total drag for the whale, but in return, they earn a meal by consuming parasites and cleaning the whale's skin. The footage supports this theory, showing remora feeding on dead skin shed by whales, similar to how humans do.
Remora are generally thought to be host-specific, remaining with the same species throughout their lives. However, Prof. Culum Brown, an expert in fish behavior, reveals a surprising fact: remora sometimes attach themselves to scuba divers. Their modified dorsal fin provides suction, which can be adjusted by wiggling backwards to increase suction or swimming forwards to decrease it.
By hitching a ride, remora gain numerous advantages. They enjoy a feast of whale detritus and breathe more easily by opening their mouths instead of pumping water across their gills. Prof. Brown humorously describes this as 'cheating the system' by getting a free ride and meal.
Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a whale scientist, emphasizes that whales provide 'the ultimate free Uber around the sea' and are not the only vehicles for marine life. Barnacles also hitch a ride, highlighting the abundance of life transported by whales. This unique relationship between whales and suckerfish showcases the wonders of the ocean and the intricate ways in which marine life adapts to its environment.
