Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Echeneidae
- Genus
- Echeneis
- Species
- naucrates
Habitat
Live sharksuckers inhabit tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, often in pelagic environments. They are commonly found attached to hosts like sharks, rays, and whales, but can also occur near reefs or in coastal areas with warm currents.
Diet
Live sharksuckers are opportunistic scavengers that primarily feed on scraps of food from their host animals, such as bits of fish or parasites. They also consume small fish, squid, and crustaceans, often foraging in the water column during the day when hosts are active.
Behavior
Live sharksuckers are known for their hitchhiking behavior, using their sucking disc to attach to larger marine animals for transportation and access to food. They are generally solitary but may aggregate around abundant hosts, and they swim freely when not attached, displaying agile and swift movements in open water. This species is active during the day and can detach quickly to evade threats.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.