Scientists filming humpbacks off Australia recorded rare footage of Remora australis detaching and reattaching with split‑second timing as whales breached. The remoras use an adhesive head plate to hitch rides and were observed in groups of up to 50. While they feed on whale skin and parasites, the videos suggest whales sometimes breach to shed them. Key questions remain about how far these remoras travel during the roughly 10,000‑km migration and whether they switch hosts during their ~two‑year lifespan.
Rare Footage Captures Remoras 'Whale‑Surfing' with Split‑Second Precision
Scientists filming humpbacks off Australia recorded rare footage of Remora australis detaching and reattaching with split‑second timing as whales breached. The remoras use an adhesive head plate to hitch rides and were observed in groups of up to 50. While they feed on whale skin and parasites, the videos suggest whales sometimes breach to shed them. Key questions remain about how far these remoras travel during the roughly 10,000‑km migration and whether they switch hosts during their ~two‑year lifespan.
13:24, 08.11.2025Science
Remoras 'whale‑surf' in stunning videos from humpback migration
There are quicker ways to cross an ocean, but few are as dramatic or stylish as a remora's ride on a humpback. Marine scientists tracking humpbacks off Australia captured rare footage showing groups of remoras detaching moments before a breach and reattaching only seconds later — a manoeuvre that looks like high‑speed aerial choreography.
The footage was recorded by Olaf Meynecke of Griffith University's Whales and Climate Research Program, who placed suction‑cup cameras on humpbacks migrating from Antarctic waters to Queensland. Meynecke intended to study whale behaviour, but many of his video feeds were filled with photobombing remoras — sometimes in groups of up to 50 — clinging to the exact spots where the cameras were mounted.
"Whenever the whale was breaching and doing fast movements it appears that the sucker fish were responding very quickly," Meynecke said. "They knew exactly when to let go before the whale breached the surface and then returned to the same spot only seconds later."
Remora australis use an adhesive plate on their heads to form a suction‑like seal, allowing them to hitch rides on whales and other large marine animals. They mainly feed on sloughed skin and sea lice, a behaviour researchers describe as commensal or sometimes mutualistic — though the videos suggest the whales may find the riders irritating and breach repeatedly as if trying to dislodge them.
Why this matters
Scientists are intrigued by how far remoras travel during the roughly 10,000‑km (6,000‑mile) humpback migration and whether remoras switch hosts during their roughly two‑year lifespan. When whales are absent, remoras are known to latch onto other large animals such as manta rays, dolphins — and, occasionally, scuba divers, to the divers' annoyance.
Key facts:
- Species: Remora australis (sucker fish).
- Behaviour: Detach just before a whale breaches and reattach seconds later with precise timing.
- Group size observed: Up to 50 around a single whale or camera site.
- Context: Footage recorded on humpbacks migrating between Antarctica and Queensland; the corridor hosts about 40,000 humpbacks.
- Open questions: How many kilometres of the migration remoras ride, and do they change hosts?
These videos offer a vivid glimpse into a little‑known partnership at sea and raise new questions about the life history and migration strategies of remoras. The footage is a reminder that even well‑known giants like humpbacks can host surprising passengers that have evolved remarkable behaviours to stay aboard.