REMORA

Remora

The remoras, sometimes called suckerfishes, are a family of ray-finned fish in the order Perciformes. They grow to long, and their distinctive first dorsal fins take the form of a modified oval sucker-like organ with slat-like structures that open and close to create suction and take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals. By sliding backward, the remora can increase the suction, or it can release itself by swimming forward. Remoras sometimes attach to small boats. They swim well on their own, with a sinuous, or curved, motion.

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remora

Noun

  1. Any of various elongate brown fish from the family '''' whose dorsal fin is in the form of a suction disc that can take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals.
  2. delay; obstacle; hindrance
  3. An old surgical instrument, intended to retain parts in their places.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: remora
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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