Hawaiian Fishes 333 



The remoras should not be considered as parasites because they do 

 not derive thei'r nourishment from their host and they do no harm except 

 to impede the progress of the host. 



The remoras are carnivorous fishes and feed on sardines, young herring, 

 and scraps left by the host. Even though they lead a somewhat inactive 

 existence, they are rapid swimmers and can overtake fishes to be used 

 either for food or as a host to which to attach themselves. 



The members of this family are widely distributed and are found in 

 all seas. Because of the fishes on which they ride, the members of the 

 family are all pelagic in their habits. 



Although most of the remoras are small fishes, some of the members 

 of the family reach a length of from three to four feet. Unlike most other 

 fishes, these little creatures are usually dark in color on both the upper 

 and lower sides of the body. 



There are many interesting stories about remoras. It is reported that 

 in some places in the tropics these fishes are used for fishing. A fishing 

 line is tied to the tail of the remora and it is sent into the sea to look 

 for a fish. As soon as the remora has attached itself to a fish, the fisherman 

 slowly pulls the two of them up to the boat. 



The ancients, especially the Romans, believed that the remora had 

 unusual power. They believed among other things that it could stop or 

 hinder sailing ships. Pliny the Roman tells how a remora stopped, out 

 of the entire fleet, the great galley of the Emperor Caligula thereby 

 foretelling his death. They also believed that the sight or presence of a 

 remora could efifect the birth of a child and even determine the outcome 

 of law suits. 



Of about ten known species in this family, three are known from 

 the Hawaiian Islands. 



Remora or Keiki o Ka Mano 



Also known as the Smaller Remora or Shark Sucker 



117-1 Echeneis remora Linne 



This remora is a uniform violet-black color above and beneath and 

 may be recognized by the presence of eighteen plates in the sucker or 

 cephalic disc. A stouter species, it reaches a length of fifteen inches. 



The Hawaiian name of the remora is interesting. Keiki-o-Ka-Mano 

 may be translated literally as "Child of the Shark." It is usually found 

 attached to large sharks. 



