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Glite Dictionary
whalesucker

whalesucker

9.9
A large fish that has a flat disc on its head and sticks to whales and dolphins
  • noun
  • /ˈweɪlˌsʌkər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : remora
  • Marine biologists observed a whalesucker hitching a ride on the back of a migrating humpback whale.

Examples

  • The whalesucker clung firmly to the bottlenose dolphin as it swam through the Pacific.

  • Unlike other remoras, the whalesucker is rarely seen unattached from its large marine hosts.

  • The whalesucker can often be seen swimming alongside a whale.

  • Many whalesuckers attach themselves to dolphins as well.

  • Marine biologists observed a whalesucker hitching a ride on the back of a migrating humpback whale.

  • The whalesucker clung firmly to the bottlenose dolphin as it swam through the Pacific.

  • Many whalesuckers attach themselves to dolphins as well.

Synonyms

remora
vswhalesucker
3 9.3

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

refers to a specific large Pacific species rather than the general fish type
Remilegia australis
vswhalesucker
  • Specialized
9.9

A large blue fish that sticks to whales and dolphins

is the common name instead of the scientific label
whale sucker
vswhalesucker
9.7

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

focuses on bluish coloration rather than attachment anatomy

Surface Forms

whalesucker singular
whalesuckers plural

Morphology

whalesucker = whale + sucker (transparent) = whale + sucker

The compound directly names a sucker (fish) associated with whales; the meaning is compositionally clear.

Etymology

Whalesucker comes from the two simple words whale and sucker, where sucker means 'something that sticks by sucking'. So a whalesucker is a fish that sticks to whales and dolphins and rides with them.