What kind of pleco should I RESEARCH!? What are their names?
The
Slender Suckerfish (also know as pleco's) which grows to 1 m in length, can vary in colour. It is often white with distinct dark stripes, but large individuals may be entirely grey.
It has an elongate body, tiny embedded scales and an oval-shaped sucking disc. This disc, which is a highly modified dorsal fin, is
positioned from the top of the head to the anterior part of the body.
The pectoral fins of this species are positioned high on the sides of the body while the dorsal and anal fins are long-based with elevated leading rays.
The fish's lower jaw projects forward well beyond the upper jaw. The jaws, vomer and tongue have villiform teeth.
The
Slender Suckerfish uses the sucking disc to attach to larger fishes, most commonly sharks and rays. But it has been seen attached to boats, marine mammals and even divers. This species is also seen free-swimming.
When attached to a large predator, the Slender Suckerfish eats food scraps from the feeding activity of its host. It is also known to eat parasites off the host's body.
The Slender Suckerfish has a widespread distribution in
most tropical and some warm temperate marine waters. In Australia it is commonly seen from south-western Western Australia around the tropical north and south to the southern coast of New South Wales. It is infrequently
observed in Victorian and Tasmanian waters.
