Why do remora fish stick to sharks?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Hitchhiking for free rides
Hitchhiking for free rides ✓ — Correct! Remoras have a modified dorsal fin that works like a suction cup on top of their heads. They attach to sharks, whales, or sea turtles for free transportation, saving energy. As bonus, they eat parasites from host skin and grab scraps when hosts feed. It's commensalism—remoras benefit without harming hosts!
Cleaning shark's teeth — Wrong. Remoras don't clean shark teeth. They eat parasites and dead skin from the shark's body surface, not dental hygiene.
Protecting sharks from parasites — Wrong. Remoras do eat some parasites from shark skin, but the primary benefit is energy-free transportation over long distances.
More Marine Life questions
- Platypuses and electroreceptive dolphins are passive electroreceptors. What are they reading?
- Platypus bills and some dolphin whisker pits both sense weak electric fields. What pattern is this?
- A nesting sea turtle looks like it is crying. What is the useful job?
- Which organism makes the most of Earth's oxygen?
- Why do sea anemones wave tentacles?
- Why do swordfish have long bills?