Echeneis neucratoides
Whitefin Sharksucker
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Echeneidae (Remoras)
Echeneis
Echeneis neucratoides (Whitefin Sharksucker)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Elongate body, moderately pointed pectoral fin, narrow-based pelvic fin. Mouth extends about two-thirds of the distance from tip of snout to anterior margin of eye. Teeth in upper jaw are in a broad band anteriorly and a narrow band posteriorly. Teeth in lower jaw are in a broad band and are exposed when mouth is closed. Vomer and palatine have broad bands of teeth, and tongue has small granular teeth. Gill rakers on first arch number 1 to 3 on upper limb and 14 on lower limb. Branchiostegal rays number 8. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 19%–21%, snout length 8%–9%, eye diameter 3%–4%, upper jaw length 6%–7%, pectoral fin length 15%–17%, disc length 25%–28%, pelvic fin length 12%–14%, body depth 7%–11%. Pectoral fin has an acute tip and 22 rays. Cephalic disc has 18 to 23 (usually 21) lamellae. Second dorsal fin has 32 to 41 (usually 36) rays. Anal fin has 30 to 38 (usually 33) rays. Caudal fin has a truncate margin.
Color is dark brown to blackish in adults, with dark brown stripe bordered by white stripe along flank running from tip of snout to base of caudal fin. Stripe may be obscured by ground color in some specimens. Median fins are dark, with relatively broad light to white margins. Upper and lower margins of medial fins white.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to northern South America in coastal waters, including the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Antilles.
Northern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Coastal waters
Biology
Maximum known size is 750 mm TL
Occurs near as well as far from the coast (Ref. 5217).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders; parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2012-08-23. Resilience: Medium (Assuming Fec < 10,000).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial.
References
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Lachner 1978
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Smith 1997
Collette 2002c
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Comments On Echeneis neucratoides