Question

Association between suckerfish (Remora) and the shark is
A. symbiosis
B. commensalism
C. parasitism
D. predation

Answer 1

Hint:- The suckerfish or the Remora uses sucker to attach itself to the shark. It uses sharks for their transportation. It also uses sharks for their food and nutrition which they get from the leftover food of the shark. They do not harm sharks in this process.

Complete step-by-step solution:- Remora are small tiny fish that are of length three feet. They have an organ on their head which is modified into a suction cup. This organ acts as a sucker and helps in the attachment of the fish to the sharks’ belly. The attachment of these fishes to the sharks benefits them greatly in terms of providing food. They feed on the leftover food eaten by the sharks. Hence, they don’t need to hunt and eat food. They also feed on the parasites growing on the body of the shark helping them in having clear skin. As the fishes are benefitted from the attachment and the sharks are neither benefited nor are at a loss such type of association is known as commensalism. In commensalism, one species benefits from the host, and the host is neither harmed nor profited in the process. Experiments show that sharks usually change their behavior when Remoras attach to them.
So, the answer is ‘commensalism’.

Note:- The remoras are the fishes that attach themselves to the shark’s body whereas, pilot fishes are those fishes that travel close to the sharks and do not attach themselves to the sharks. They also are benefitted from the sharks as they eat leftover food. But they are in a symbiotic relationship with the sharks.