Remoras

Scientific name : Echeneidae

Remoras are also known as suckerfishes, sharksuckers or whalesuckers, because of their habit to attach themselves to the skin of bigger animals, mainly sharks, manta rays, turtles and whales, but also tunas, swordfishes and dugongs. They act as cleaners on their hosts and also feed on “leftovers”.
Eight species of remoras are known, with maximum sizes shifting between twenty centimetres and one meter; they are elongated and flattened fishes, and their distinctive first dorsal fin takes the form of a oval sucker-like organ with 10-28 laminar structures that move to create suction and take a firm hold against the skin of other animals. By sliding backward, the remoras can increase the suction, or they can release themselves by swimming forward. They can swim well also on their own, with a sinuous motion.
They are usually black in colour, with bright longitudinal stripes.
They live in tropical and temperate waters, both in open ocean and in coastal waters.