213.3 Remora australis: 38 em and dorsal view of head to show sucker (Algoa
Bay).
Genus Remora Gill, 1863
five species, three in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Disc laminae 14-20 ............................................................ 2
1 b Disc laminae 24-27; D 23-26 ............... .................... R. australis
2a D 22-26; A 22-24 .................................................... R. remora
2b D 27-34; A 25-30 .............................................. R. brachyptera
Whale remora
213.3 Remora australis
(Bennett, 1840)
Walvis-remora
Echeneis australis Bennett, 1840: 273 (type-locality not given).
Remilegia australis: Smith, 1953: 521, No. 949a*; 1958: 319*; Cressey &
Lachner, 1970: 311.
D 22-26; A 21-26; P 21-24; GR (1-3)+(13-19); vertebrae 12+ 15. Disc
length about Yz SL.
Colour dark blue to slate grey; fins with narrow white
edge. Attains 40 cm. Worldwide, pelagic; found only on
cetaceans.
213: ECHENEIDAE (REMORAS)
213.4 Remora brachyptera
(Lowe, 1839)
Spearfish remora
Speervis-remora
Echeneis brachyptera Lowe, 1839: 89 (Madeira). Remora brachyptera:
Smith, SFSA No. 948; Cressey & Lachner, 1970: 315; Lachner, 1973: 639.
D 27-34; A 25-34; P 23-27; lower GR 12-14 (including rudiments); total
vertebrae 12+ 15.
Colour brownish. Attains 30 cm. Worldwide; prefers
billfishes, attaching to body of host or in gill cavity.
Remora
213.5 Remora remora
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 82
Remora
Echeneis remora Linnaeus, 1758: 260 ("Pelago Indica"). Remora remora: Smith, SFSA No. 947*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 135*; Cressey &
Lachner, 1970: 312; Lachner, 1973:638.
D 22-26; A 22-24; P 26-30; GR (5-6)+(26-28) including 1 or 2 rudiments.
Colour dark brownish grey. Attains 62 cm. Worldwide;
common; prefers sharks, often found in the gill chambers.
The Latin word remora means "delay" or "hindrance" and
was applied to these fishes because they were thought to
delay a ship's progress when they attached to the hull.
213.4 Remora brachyptera: 12 em and dorsal view of head to show sucker (Algoa Bay).
213.5 Remora remora: 23 em (Algoa Bay).
663
Bay).
Genus Remora Gill, 1863
five species, three in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Disc laminae 14-20 ............................................................ 2
1 b Disc laminae 24-27; D 23-26 ............... .................... R. australis
2a D 22-26; A 22-24 .................................................... R. remora
2b D 27-34; A 25-30 .............................................. R. brachyptera
Whale remora
213.3 Remora australis
(Bennett, 1840)
Walvis-remora
Echeneis australis Bennett, 1840: 273 (type-locality not given).
Remilegia australis: Smith, 1953: 521, No. 949a*; 1958: 319*; Cressey &
Lachner, 1970: 311.
D 22-26; A 21-26; P 21-24; GR (1-3)+(13-19); vertebrae 12+ 15. Disc
length about Yz SL.
Colour dark blue to slate grey; fins with narrow white
edge. Attains 40 cm. Worldwide, pelagic; found only on
cetaceans.
213: ECHENEIDAE (REMORAS)
213.4 Remora brachyptera
(Lowe, 1839)
Spearfish remora
Speervis-remora
Echeneis brachyptera Lowe, 1839: 89 (Madeira). Remora brachyptera:
Smith, SFSA No. 948; Cressey & Lachner, 1970: 315; Lachner, 1973: 639.
D 27-34; A 25-34; P 23-27; lower GR 12-14 (including rudiments); total
vertebrae 12+ 15.
Colour brownish. Attains 30 cm. Worldwide; prefers
billfishes, attaching to body of host or in gill cavity.
Remora
213.5 Remora remora
(Linnaeus, 1758)
PLATE 82
Remora
Echeneis remora Linnaeus, 1758: 260 ("Pelago Indica"). Remora remora: Smith, SFSA No. 947*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 135*; Cressey &
Lachner, 1970: 312; Lachner, 1973:638.
D 22-26; A 22-24; P 26-30; GR (5-6)+(26-28) including 1 or 2 rudiments.
Colour dark brownish grey. Attains 62 cm. Worldwide;
common; prefers sharks, often found in the gill chambers.
The Latin word remora means "delay" or "hindrance" and
was applied to these fishes because they were thought to
delay a ship's progress when they attached to the hull.
213.4 Remora brachyptera: 12 em and dorsal view of head to show sucker (Algoa Bay).
213.5 Remora remora: 23 em (Algoa Bay).
663