Sharks and their Interspecies Friendships

Symbiotic relationships form all across the animal world, sometimes with the most unexpected pairs! In contrast to their reputation, certain sharks actually seek out social interaction. Learn more about sharks and the peaceful relationships they form with other fish in the sea.

SHARK WEEK starts July 11 on Discovery, and is streaming now on discovery+.

July 08, 2021

By: Tatum Lenberg

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Remora Fish

Remora are a tiny type of fish that measures one to three feet long. Their front dorsal fin sits like a suction cup at the top of their heads, allowing themselves to attach to a passing shark. The remora fish usually attach to the shark’s underbelly and eat scraps of prey dropped by the shark. They benefit the shark by eating parasites on the shark’s skin and mouth that would otherwise irritate and harm the shark. The sharks protect the remora fish from predators and give them free transportation across the ocean. Sharks seem to understand the benefits of “befriending” remoras, and have been observed slowing down to allow remoras to suction to them.

Pilot Fish

Pilot fish are a small fish that can often be seen swimming alongside sharks. Like remora, they feed on the leftover food from a shark’s meal. Unlike remora, they do not suction themselves to the shark, just swim alongside them. Sailors have even reported that sharks and pilot fish act like close friends!

Mackerel

It’s not unusual to find sharks that like the company of other fish. Mackerel, like many fish, enjoy bumping against sharks’ sandpapery skin to scratch off loose scales and parasites.

Barber Fish

Scalloped hammerheads and reef sharks often look for company in barber fish. Unintimidated, the barber fish approach the sharks to eat parasites from their skin. It’s a mutually beneficial exchange, one gets an easy meal and the other gets groomed.

Jack Fish

Oftentimes, sharks are not lone hunters. Jack fish will swim alongside sharks, using the shark as a moving blindspot for their daytime attacks on prey.