EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Mutualism is the relationship between two organisms where both organisms get benefitted from one another. The relationship between remora fish and shark can be considered as mutualism.

Detailed explanation-2: -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.

Detailed explanation-3: -The pilot fish’s relationship with sharks is a mutualist one; the pilot fish gains protection from predators, while the shark gains freedom from parasites.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because remoras cause no damage to their shark host, they are not considered parasitic-but the relationship isn’t symbiotic either, since the sharks don’t get much back from remoras, unless of course sharks find amusement in the fishes’ odd, upside-down, disc-shaped heads.

Detailed explanation-5: -While most shark species appreciate remoras, not all are happy with this symbiotic relationship! Sandbar and lemon sharks have been documented acting aggressively and even consuming beneficial remoras.