Most abundant remora in warm waters. Occurs near as well as far from the coast. Often found free-swimming in shallow inshore areas and around coral reefs. Attaches temporarily to a variety of hosts including sharks, rays, large bony fishes or sea turtles, whales, dolphins and also to ships. May follow divers; reported to attach itself to a diver's leg. Feeds on small fishes, bits of its host's prey and host's parasites. Juveniles occasionally act as reef station-based cleaners, where they service parrotfishes. Sometimes used by natives to aid in fishing; a line is tied to the caudal peduncle of the remora and then is released; upon attaching to another fish, the remora and its host are hauled in by the fisher