Remora osteochir
(Cuvier, 1829)
Marlin sucker

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Classification / Names

Teleostei (teleosts) > Carangiformes (Jacks) > Echeneidae (Remoras)
Etymology: Remora: Latin, remora = delay, hindrance (1567) (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.

Environment / milieu / depth range / climate zone / distribution range

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 200 m (Ref. 86942); subtropical; 42°N - 45°S180°W - 180°E.

Distribution

Warm and temperate seas of all oceans. Western Central Pacific: Guam (Ref. 35721). Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Peru (Ref. 2850). Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil (Ref. 7251). Eastern Central Atlantic: Madeira Island (Ref. 74541).

Maps

Remora osteochir / Native range
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Remora osteochir / Suitable habitat
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Remora osteochir / Point map
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

Remora osteochir / Year 2050
AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

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Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 13.9, range 11 - 17 cm
Max length: 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed (Ref. 5288).

Biology

Oceanic species with a strong preference for marlins and sailfish as hosts, but may occasionally cling to other large fishes. Attaches to the body or gill chamber of the host (Ref. 10791). Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 57896).

Life cycle and mating behavior

Oviparous. From collection study observations, a mature pair is often found attached to a single host, most often a billfish, indicative of distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 57896).

Main reference

Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley 1989 Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 7. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 665 p. (Ref. 7300)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 125652)

  Least Concern (LC); date assessed: August 23 2012

CITES (Ref. 131153)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless

More information
Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 17.3 - 28.2, mean 25.9 °C (based on 1457 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD50 = 0.5352 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00257 (0.00110 - 0.00600), b=3.17 (2.96 - 3.38), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 8,100).

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100).

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Iron = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Protein = 0 [0, 0] %; Omega3 = 0 [0, 0] g/100g; Selenium = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; Zinc = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g (wet weight);