Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Echeneis neucratoides, Whitefin Sharksucker, Whitefin Sharksucker Remora

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

head disc - usually 21 plates
body elongate, depth 7-12.5% SL
D & A usually 36 & 33
D, A & C tips broadly white
pectoral pointed

Echeneis neucratoides Zuiew, 1786

Whitefin Sharksucker, Whitefin Sharksucker Remora

Body long & slender; head disc with 21(18-28) plates, reaches over ~center of pectoral fin; jaws broad, lower jaw projecting, top jaw not protractile; simple teeth on jaws and center of roof of mouth; operculum without spines; gill rakers 1-3 + 14; dorsal and anal fin bases long, 2-3 times head length; dorsal rays 36 (34-42); anal rays 33 (32-38); pectorals high on body, pointed, 21-24; pelvics under pectoral base, close-set, I, 5; scales small, smooth, imbedded; tail fin slightly rounded.

Grey, white edged black stripe along side from tip of lower jaw through eye to tail fin, stripe broader at front; tips of dorsal, anal and tail fins broadly white (more broadly white than in E. naucrates).

Size: reaches 75 cm.

Oceanic but often see around reefs. Attaches to a wide variety of hosts, including sharks, rays, large fishes, turtles and whates, but frequently free-living.

Depth: 0-50 m.

Maine to the S Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Mid Water
  • Near Bottom
  • Near Surface
  • Surface
  • Water column only
Habitat
  • Water column
  • Large fishes (billfishes, rays, sharks, etc), turtles & whales
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Pelagic
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
  • Ectoparasite cleaner
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Zooplankton
  • Bony fishes
  • Ectoparasites
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • Extends North of GC
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Data deficient
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 75
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 50