Definition

Noun: 1. A marine fish with a flattened, elongated body and a suction disk on its head for attaching to larger fish, sea turtles, ships, or other moving objects. Remoras are known for this unique symbiotic relationship, where they hitch rides and often feed on scraps from their host's meals or on parasites.

Usage Examples

• The remora attached itself to the shark's belly, traveling effortlessly through the ocean.
• Divers often see remoras clinging to the hulls of boats.
• The relationship between the remora and its host is generally considered commensal, meaning the remora benefits without significantly harming the host.

Advanced Usage

• "Remora effect": A metaphorical term used in economics or business to describe a situation where a smaller, less successful entity is persistently attached to and dependent on a larger, more successful one.
  • The struggling company became a remora on the industry giant, surviving only through its exclusive supply contract.

Variants and Related Words

• Suckerfish: A common name for remora.
• Sharksucker: A specific type of remora () often associated with sharks.
• Disk: Refers specifically to the modified dorsal fin that forms the suction organ on the remora's head.

Synonyms

• Suckerfish
• Hitchhiker fish (descriptive term)

Related Phrases / Idioms

• To attach like a remora: To cling persistently to someone or something, often in a dependent manner.
  • The paparazzi attached like a remora to the celebrity's car.

Noun

1. marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects