White Remora

The white suckerfish, or mantasucker (Remora albescens), is a species within the Echeneidae family, characterized by its elongated form and adhesive discs used for attachment to larger marine organisms. This species, noted for its prominent lips and white hue, is distributed globally within warm, open seas. Its habitats include the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, encompassing regions such as Réunion and 🇲🇺 Mauritius; the eastern 🌊 Pacific Ocean, from San Francisco to 🇨🇱 Chile, albeit uncommonly north of Baja California; and the western and eastern-central Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Florida and the 🌊 Gulf of Mexico to 🇧🇷 Brazil and St. Paul's Rocks.

The white suckerfish can attain a standard length of up to 30 cm (12 inches). It possesses a short and wide adhesive disc, measuring 34-40% in length and 22-26% in width relative to its standard length, and featuring 13-14 lamellae. Its pelvic fins are positioned forward and are narrowly connected to the abdomen, while the dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins are short with reduced rays. Specifically, the dorsal fin comprises 18-23 rays, the anal fin 18-24 rays, and the pectoral fin 18-21 rays. Its dentition is specialized, with numerous large, robust canine teeth arranged in extensive patches within broad jaws. The coloration of the head, body, and fins ranges from light brown, light tan, or light grey to whitish. Observations of three specimens from the 🌊 Gulf of Mexico reveal significant variability in their color pattern, from uniformly grey or pale bluish-white to light grey with darkened sides and belly featuring elongated spots. Notably, one living specimen demonstrated a rapid color change, darkening upon removal from seawater and lightening upon return.

Rarely found swimming independently, the white suckerfish typically form host-specific associations with manta rays, frequently entering their host's mouth and gill chamber more than any other remora. Occasionally, they attach to sharks and, in the Indo-Pacific, to black marlin. Unlike other remora species, parasitic copepods are a negligible component of the white suckerfish's diet, suggesting the absence of a mutualistic relationship with its host. Its response to tactile stimuli on the belly involves a forceful erection of its pelvic fins, possibly an adaptation to avoid being crushed by their host. Details regarding their reproduction remain unknown. Additionally, this species is utilized in Chinese medicine.