176 GIANT FISHES 



The Remoras are in the habit of attaching themselves to 

 sharks and other large oceanic fishes, turtles, or even to the 

 bottoms of ships or to other floating objects. It is rare 

 indeed to catch a large shark without finding 2, 3 or more of 

 these fishes attached, but the Remoras invariably drop off 

 when the shark is hauled out of the water. It has been 

 stated by one naturalist that, when attached to its " host ", a 

 Remora seems to become quite insensitive, and shows no 

 signs of life however roughly it is treated. They do not attach 

 themselves solely to the external surface of the body of the 

 " host ", but are often found inside the mouth or even beneath 

 the gill-covers of "Sword-fishes", Tunnies, Sun-fishes, etc., 

 and have even been known to shelter well inside the mouth of 

 the gigantic Devil-fishes. 



The purpose of the association between the Remora and its 

 " host " seems to be twofold : in the first place, it obtains a 

 measure of protection from its enemies, and probably also a 

 share of its companion's meal ; in the second place, it obtains 

 a free ride, and is carried without effort on its own part to 

 fresh feeding-grounds. The normal food of the Remoras 

 consists of other fishes, and once among a shoal of suitable 

 prey they detach themselves and swim about in active 

 pursuit Hunger being appeased, they will look about for 

 other large fishes, to which they will promptly adhere, digesting 

 the meal in comfort and seclusion. The sharks, curiously 

 enough, seem to tolerate tnese messmates, and so far no 

 remains of Remoras have ever been found in their stomachs. 



It has been said that a Remora when attached to a shark or 

 other object has its normal coloration more or less reversed : 

 that is to say, it tends to be paler on the back than on the 

 belly. It is certainly true that in practically all the species 

 the lower parts of the body are quite as dark, if not darker, 

 than the upper. As the fish is attached by the upper surface 

 of its head it is the belly that is exposed to the light, and it 

 has been suggested that the development of dark pigment 

 is due to the action of the light. Another example of 

 reversed coloration is known among fishes, namely an African 

 fresh-water Cat-fish (Synodontis) , known to the Arabs as 

 " Batensoda " (Black Belly), in which the lower parts are 

 dark brown or black and the back pale silvery grey. This 



