Remora fish get free food by hanging out with sharks. Sharks are not affected by the remora. Which type of symbiotic relationship is this?
Biology · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020
Answered on
The relationship between remora fish and sharks is an example of commensalism.
In commensalism, one organism benefits from the association, while the other organism is neither significantly benefited nor harmed. In this case, the remora fish benefits by obtaining free food scraps and protection by attaching itself to the shark without causing any noticeable harm or benefit to the shark. The remora gains advantages, such as getting access to food remnants from the shark's meals and protection by traveling with a larger, potentially predatory animal, while the shark remains unaffected by the presence of the remora.