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Remoras Surf Humpback Whales in Daring Ocean Stunts
8 Nov
Summary
- Rare footage shows remoras peeling away from whales before breaching
- Remoras cling to whales, riding them like "giant cruise ships"
- Whales appear annoyed by the remoras, trying to shake them off
In November 2025, scientists tracking humpback whales off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage of remoras, or sucker fish, engaging in a high-speed "whale-surfing" joyride. The footage shows the remoras peeling away from the whales just moments before the whales breach the surface, only to return to the same spot on the whales' bodies seconds later.
Remoras are known to spend their lives aboard whales and other large marine mammals, riding them like "giant cruise ships" as they migrate across the ocean. The remoras have an adhesive plate on their heads that allows them to create a vacuum seal and cling to the whales.
The scientists' footage suggests the whales find the remoras annoying, with the whales continually breaching the surface in what appears to be an attempt to shake off their hitchhikers. However, the remoras demonstrate impressive timing and precision, returning to their spots on the whales' bodies with the skill of Olympic gymnasts.
The full extent of the remoras' journeys alongside the whales remains a mystery, as scientists are unsure how long the freeloading fish, which only live for about two years, are able to remain with the whales during their 6,000-mile migrations. But the rare footage has provided a glimpse into the unique relationship between these two ocean creatures.
