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Slender Suckerfish
Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758
A Slender Suckerfish attached to a Leopard Shark Stegostoma fasciatum, (view fact sheet) at a depth of 25 m, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, April 1996. Photo © I. Shaw. View larger image.
A free-swimming Slender Suckerfish at a depth of 13 m, North West Solitary Island, New South Wales, July 2000. Photo © I. Shaw. View larger image.
Head of a 20 cm long Slender Suckerfish removed from a Yellowfin Bream caught on hook and line by J. Pogonoski at a depth of 5 m, Hook Island, Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, July 2002. Photo © J. Pogonoski. View larger image.
The Slender Suckerfish which grows to 1 m in length, can vary in colour. It is often white with distinct dark stripes, but large individuals may be entirely grey.
It has an elongate body, tiny embedded scales and an oval-shaped sucking disc. This disc, which is a highly modified dorsal fin, is positioned from the top of the head to the anterior part of the body.
The pectoral fins of this species are positioned high on the sides of the body while the dorsal and anal fins are long-based with elevated leading rays.
The fish's lower jaw projects forward well beyond the upper jaw. The jaws, vomer (glossary) and tongue have villiform teeth (glossary).
The Slender Suckerfish uses the sucking disc to attach to larger fishes, most commonly sharks and rays. But it has been seen attached to boats, marine mammals and even divers. This species is also seen free-swimming.
When attached to a large predator, the Slender Suckerfish eats food scraps from the feeding activity of its host. It is also known to eat parasites off the host's body.
The Slender Suckerfish has a widespread distribution in most tropical and some warm temperate marine waters. In Australia it is commonly seen from south-western Western Australia around the tropical north and south to the southern coast of New South Wales. It is infrequently observed in Victorian and Tasmanian waters.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F, Glover, . & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
