A dugong in the Philippines has two sets of companions, streamlined remoras and striped golden jacks. The golden jacks grab small shrimps that the dugong stirs up and don’t bother the creature. The remoras, on the other hand, are irritating.
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TRANSCRIPT
- [Narrator] Not all arrangements with suckerfish are as comfortable.
This dugong in the Philippines has two sets of companions: the streamlined remoras seen on sharks and mantas, and striped golden jacks.
The placid dugong grazes the seagrass meadows.
The golden jacks grab small shrimps that the dugong stirs up.
He seems content to have them around.
The remoras, on the other hand, seem to trouble him.
They don't seem to be useful cleaners.
In fact, they only want to eat what the shrimp goby feeds his shrimp.
Most remoras are poop-eaters, just like the shrimp.
The dugong hates it.
It must be very uncomfortable.
First, he tries to rub them off, but that doesn't work.
Plan B. He rolls around creating a cloud of silt and sand.
He tries to bat them away.
Once he's got a dense cloud cover going, he sneaks off with his golden jacks and only one remora.