Rem'ora, or SUCKING-FISH (Echeneis), a genus of fishes sometimes classed not far from mackerels among the Acanthopterous Teleosteans, or referred to a special sub-order Discocephali. The great peculiarity is the suctorial disc on the dorsal surface of the head. It is formed from a modification of the first dorsal fin, whose spines have become cleft. The sucking-fishes fix themselves very firmly to sharks, sword-fish, turtles, and even to ships. So firmly do they adhere that they are sometimes used in fishing. A line is fixed to the tail; the fish is set free; it discovers a turtle or fish and fastens itself. The fishermen dive after the line if the remora has fastened on to a turtle, or may in other cases simply haul it up. Columbus, or one of his companions, described how the 'Guaican' shoots 'like an Arrow out of a Bowe towards the other fish, and then, gathering the bag on his head like a purse-net, hold them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the water.' More precise details have been furnished by other travellers. Several species of Echeneis or remora are known from Zanzibar, Cuba, New Guinea, &c. The remora of the Mediterranean was well known to the ancients, and was credited with many feats, such as that of detaining Antony's ship from the battle of Actium. The fish is palatable, and is sometimes eaten after its day's work of fishing.