Species: Remora osteochir, the Marlinsucker
Remora osteochir (Cuvier, 1829)
Marlinsucker
Body elongate, robust; dorsal and anal bases < 2x head length; head disc with 15-19 plates, long (37-49% of SL), reaches well beyond pectorals, its tiny spines blunt, in 4 irregular rows; jaws broad, lower jaw projecting, top jaw not protractile; simple teeth on jaws and center of roof of mouth; operculum without spines; 11-17 gill rakers; pectoral medium, blunt, 20-24 rays, fin stiff to tip; dorsal and anal bases similar length, almost 2x head length; dorsal 20-26 rays, anal 20-26 rays; pelvics pointed, under pectoral base, close-set, I, 5, broadly attached to belly; tail slightly concave (forked in juvenile); scales small, smooth, imbedded.
Overall brown.
Size: 40 cm.
Habitat: oceanic, hosts are billfishes.
Depth: 0-200 m?
Circumtropical; southern California to northern Peru, throughout our region except for the upper Gulf of California.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Offshore
- Offshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Mid Water
- Water column only
- Near Surface
- Habitat
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- Water column
- Large fishes (billfishes, rays, sharks, etc), turtles & whales
- FishBase Habitat
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- Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Ectoparasite cleaner
- Planktivore
- Carnivore
- No Data
- Diet
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- Zooplankton
- Pelagic crustacea
- Pelagic fish larvae
- Ectoparasites
- Bony fishes
- No Data
- Egg Type
-
- No data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
- East Pacific + all Atlantic (East+West)
- TEP non-endemic
- All species
- East Pacific + Atlantic (East +/or West)
- "Transpacific" (East + Central &/or West Pacific)
- Transisthmian (East Pacific + Atlantic of Central America)
- Regional Endemism
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- Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic
- Eastern Pacific non-endemic
- Continent + Island (s)
- Continent
- All species
- Island (s)
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
- Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
- Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
- North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
- South Temperate (Peruvian Province )
- IUCN Red List
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- Not evaluated / Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 40
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 200
