What is a pilot fish?

Pilot fish is a small fish that is known to be in the company of larger predators. It has a type of symbiotic relationship with a larger animal known as "reciprocity" where unrelated species have a relationship that is not based on predator/prey. Pilot fish of her parasites from the skin of her host animal and in return receive protection from other species. The fish is considered carnivorous because it eats small pieces of meat and ectoparasites. Ectoparasites are tiny creatures that live on the outside of the body of another animal and feed them. By using parasites as food sources, pilot fish can create mutually beneficial relationships with larger animals such as sea turtles or predators such as sharks. These animals often suffer from skin parasites and offer them relief. They will swim in the mouth of their host and eat all the food particles that are stuck between his teeth. When their host is a shark, it can be an impressive look to see much smaller fish inside such a dangerously jagged mouth. Pilot fishIt is at risk of being consumed because it provides benefits to the shark. This led to some surfers to put pilot fish stickers on the bottom of their surf boards to discourage sharks to bite them.

These fish can actually be used as food fish, but are as beneficial as cleaning agents that they rarely consume any animal. The unusual relationship that pilot fish with other creatures has led to many romantic myths. Before the nature of the relationship was fully understood, it was assumed that the pilot fish had led their hosts to eat rather than fed parasites on their host. Since pilot fish also follow their hosts to feed themselves from their killing, Would sometimes watch sailboats for waste thrown overboard and were considered a good sign that the ship would safely reach the harbor.

pilot fish also oftenThey use as a metaphor in literature. Herman Melville, author of moby dick , used pilot fish to represent life in a dangerous place in his poem "Maldive Shark". In The Christmas Invasion , an episode of 2005 British television program Science Fiction Doctor Who , the doctor calls some dangerous extraterrestrials as "pilot fish". It refers to the myth of fish that leads their host to prey, since the arrival of the aliens announced the arrival of a much more dangerous race, Sycorax.