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Remilegia australis

Remilegia australis

9.9
A large blue fish that sticks to whales and dolphins
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Remilegia australis
  • The Remilegia australis is often seen clinging to blue whales in the Pacific Ocean.

Examples

  • A diver spotted a Remilegia australis attached to a dolphin during the survey.

  • Researchers studied how Remilegia australis interacts with its mammal hosts.

  • The Remilegia australis is often seen swimming alongside whales.

  • Have you ever spotted a Remilegia australis in the wild?

  • A diver spotted a Remilegia australis attached to a dolphin during the survey.

  • The Remilegia australis is often seen clinging to blue whales in the Pacific Ocean.

  • Researchers studied how Remilegia australis interacts with its mammal hosts.

Synonyms

remora
vsRemilegia australis
3 9.3

A small sea fish with a suction cup on its head that sticks to larger animals like sharks

is larger, blue, and Pacific, attaching specifically to large marine mammals
whale sucker
vsRemilegia australis
9.7

A large fish that clings to whales or dolphins using a suction disk on its head

is the blue Pacific form of the same attach-to-mammals fish
whalesucker
vsRemilegia australis
  • Specialized
9.9

A large fish that has a flat disc on its head and sticks to whales and dolphins

is the same species but noted specifically for blue colour and Pacific range

Surface Forms

Morphology

Remilegia + australis

This is a binomial scientific name composed of a genus (Remilegia, defined here as fishes that attach to larger marine animals) and a species epithet (australis). If a learner knows both constituents—particularly that 'australis' means 'southern'—the overall meaning ('the southern Remilegia,' i.e. a remora that lives in southern/Pacific waters and attaches to whales/dolphins) is directly derivable from the parts and from common species-naming conventions.

Etymology

Remilegia australis may come from the idea of a 'remora' fish that sticks and the word australis, which means 'southern'. So the name paints the picture of a 'southern sticking' fish, which helps you remember it is a large remora that attaches to whales and dolphins.