SHARKSUCKER (ECHENEIS NAUCRATES) ON A BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) AND A REVIEW OF OTHER CETACEAN-REMORA ASSOCIATIONS

The family Echeneididae (=Echeneidae) contains eight remora species, with all but one of these being worldwide in their distribution. Echeneis neucratoides is believed to be restricted to the western Atlantic Ocean. All echeneids are marine species, commonly inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters. Echeneid fishes attach to elasmobranchs, bony fishes, sea turtles, cetaceans, sirenians, and ships and other floating objects by means of a laminated adhesive disc on the dorsal surface of their head. Suspected benefits of echeneid fishes' association with these hosts include transportation, protection from predators, increased courtship/reproduction potential, enhanced gill ventilation, and expanded feeding opportunities. A 259-cm male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with three attached echeneids live-stranded in Galveston, Texas (29 degree 16.4 theta N, 94 degree 49.1 theta W) on 29 October 1995. Efforts to rescue the dolphin for subsequent rehabilitation dislodged all but one echeneid. This 119-mm (standard length) specimen was collected and identified as a sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates).