REMORAS, 269 



Family IX. Echeneidid^. 



(Remoras.) 



The species, about twenty in number, which 

 compose this Family, are all included in a single 

 genus. They are at once distinguished by a 

 lengthened oval disk running along the top of the 

 head, divided into two longitudinal portions by a 

 central ridge. Across each division run many 

 transverse plates of cartilage, having a finely 

 toothed edge directed backwards. They either 

 lie flat, or can be made by muscular effort to 

 stand partially erect. The body is lengthened, 

 and covered with small scales, ordinarily con- 

 cealed by a dense coat of mucus, only perceptible 

 to the touch if the hand be passed along the 

 surface from the tail forwards. The mouth is 

 wide, and opens vertically upwards; the jaws, 

 tongue, and vomer are furnished with small teeth. 

 There is a single dorsal placed far back, and 

 opposite to the anal. 



The species are chiefly natives of the warmer 

 seas ; two are recognised as inhabiting the Medi- 

 terranean, and a single example of one of these 

 has been taken on the British coast. 



Genus Echeneis. (Linn.) 



As the technical characters of this, the only 

 genus of the Family, have been enumerated above, 

 they need not be repeated. We shall, therefore, 

 content ourselves with a brief notice of the com- 

 mon Remora [Echeneis remora, Linn.) of the 



