British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Remora - definition

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Translation:

The fish in the picture is a Remora. In the right hand, the sign represents a larger marine animal, such as a whale or a shark, while the left hand is the Remora. Remoras are not found in the waters behind me but far out in the deep ocean. These fish attach themselves to larger sea creatures; they have evolved to no longer have an upright dorsal fin, but instead a flat surface or ‘sucker’ that allows them to cling to their host. This means less effort for the Remora, as they feed on leftovers from the larger animals; they also clean parasites from their host’s bodies. Aligning themselves with a bigger fish offers the Remora protection from predators. Remoras are long and slender, ranging from 20cm to 1 metre in length. They propel themselves forward to become unattached. Remoras are mostly found in the tropics and around the equator.