Sharksucker (species: Echeneis naucrates) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Echeneidae > Echeneis > Echeneis naucrates (gallery)
Echeneis naucrates
Sharksucker


©Anne Hoggett: Small (30 cm) Echeneis naucrates under a Potato Cod at Cod Hole near Lizard Island

©Anne Hoggett: Echeneis naucrates off South Island, Lizard Island Group.

©Anne Hoggett: Two Sharksuckers with unusual colouration attached to a Green turtle at Lizard Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Echeneidae
Genus Echeneis
Species Echeneis naucrates

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Distinctive suction disc on top of head. Attaches to larger vertebrates or swims alongside them. Normal colour is grey to black with a white-edged black stripe along body. An unusual variation is pale yellowish/grey with a dusky stripe through eye.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Leis, J.M. and B.M. Carson-Ewart (2000). Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes Brill, Leiden, pp. 1-850. LIRS catalog number 660.
  • Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene (1990). Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • View all references