The dorsal fin, which has 22 to 26 soft rays, acts as a suction cup, creating a vacuum[4] to allow the fish to attach to larger marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles.

The host provides the remora with fast-moving water for respiration, a steady flow of food, transportation, and protection.

[7] The remora benefits the host by feeding in part on some of its parasites, but increases its hydrodynamic drag.

This remora is commonly found in warm marine waters and has been seen in the western Mediterranean and the Atlantic, as well as the North Sea.

The remora consumes food scraps from its host, as well as plankton and parasitic copepods.