Remoras are fish that use their sucker-like mouths to attach onto the skin of other...
Remoras are fish that use their sucker-like mouths to attach onto the skin of other animals. They often attach to sharks and consume dead skin cells, any food discarded from the shark, and other organisms that may feed on the shark itself. The relationship between the shark and the remora is an example of which of the following?
- A. Predation
- B. Parasitism
- C. Commensalism
- D. Competition
Correct Answer: C. Commensalism
Explanation
This is an example of commensalism as one species benefits (the remora) and the other species is not affected (the shark). The remora gains food and has to use little energy to obtain that food whereas the shark does not notice the small remora riding on its skin. The remora does not prey on the shark, the two are not in competition with each other because the remora consumes discarded food, and the remora does not harm the shark, so it is not a parasite.