Supplementary material 3 (Video). “Cleaning-like” behavior of marlin suckers toward a sailfish.(135.7MB, 00:00:53)Shot Date: 2022/10/22 Shot Location: Fukushima Marine Science Museum | ||
 | species Istiophorus platypterus Key Words | |
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Supplementary material 3 (Video). “Cleaning-like” behavior of marlin suckers toward a sailfish.(135.7MB, 00:00:53)Shot Date: 2022/10/22 Shot Location: Fukushima Marine Science Museum | ||
| species Istiophorus platypterus Key Words | |
|
Animalia >Chordata >Actinopterygii >Istiophoriformes >Istiophoridae >Istiophorus >
One marlin sucker swims along the sailfish’s pectoral fin before returning to the sailfish’s gill cavity (at 6 seconds). The sailfish continues swimming while performing gill pump ventilation, broadly opening and closing its gill covers, until the marlin suckers are fully contained within the gill cavity (6–30 seconds). It then switches to ram ventilation, breathing without moving its gill covers (30–33 seconds).
When the sailfish slows its swimming speed and opens its gill cover(s) (33–34 seconds), a marlin sucker emerges from the gill cavity and swims along the sailfish’s body surface. Simultaneously, the sailfish expands its dorsal fin and further reduces its swimming speed. The marlin sucker moves rearward along the sailfish’s body surface and inserts its head into the indentation at the base of the anal fin, as if attempting to peck at something (40–41 seconds). It then returns to the sailfish’s gill cavity (at 45 seconds). At the same time, another marlin sucker individual is positioned near the entrance of the gill cavity.
The sailfish continues to swim slowly while performing gill pump ventilation until the marlin sucker is completely accommodated within the gill cavity (44–47 seconds). It then switches to ram ventilation and continues swimming (47–53 seconds).
Below is the abstract from the article containing this video:
The symbiotic relationship between remoras and their hosts is difficult to comprehensively evaluate, as hosts may experience both benefits and disadvantages from their interaction with remoras. This study observed behaviors of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) and marlin suckers (Remora osteochir) in an aquarium by filming them. The marlin suckers displayed cleaning behavior, inserting their heads into small depressions along the base of the sailfish's fins and pecking at the host's injured snout. In response, the sailfish reduced its swimming speed and opened its operculum, allowing the marlin sucker to exit the gill cavity. These behaviors were consistent with the typical "cleaning–request" behavior observed in host species interacting with cleaner fish. Our observations strongly suggest a symbiotic relationship between the two species. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo250502ip07a, http://www. momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo250502ip09a, and http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid= momo250502ip05a.
Toshiaki Mori, Kenichi Fujii, Kaori Fujii, Akira Komoda, and Takuzo Abe (2025) Symbiotic cleaning relationship between a sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) and remoras (Remora osteochir). J. Ethol. 10.1007/s10164-025-00852-w
(Data No.momo250502ip09a)
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