Pilot Fish

ocean · clever fish · shark sidekick

Travel with sharks. Pilot fish swim alongside sharks and rays, earning their name by following these big predators around like loyal companions. Scientists believe they benefit from leftover food scraps and protection from other hunters.

Scrap-eating specialists. These carnivorous fish eat parasites, dead skin, and leftover food bits from their shark hosts. Some pilot fish also hunt small fish and plankton on their own.

Ocean wanderers. Pilot fish belong to the trevally family and live in warm tropical seas all around the world. They prefer open ocean waters rather than staying near the shore.

Striped swimmers. Most pilot fish have dark vertical stripes running along their silver bodies, which helps them blend in and stay hidden from danger. They grow to about 25 centimeters long, or about the size of a pencil.

Helpful partnership. The relationship between pilot fish and sharks is called symbiosis, where both animals benefit from being together. The shark gets cleaned up while the pilot fish gets meals and safety.