Latchfish

Notes

Latchfish are a genus of fish found across the Greater Oasis. Latin name Comecheneis. Closely related to remoras from Earth, in the same family

Anatomy

Large, reaching lengths between six and ten metres

Attach themselves to the bodies of much larger creatures, any kinds of cetacean or other ray-finned fish

Like remoras, their first dorsal fin has formed a suction pad to allow them to stick to their hosts

The relationship is not mutualistic or parasitic, as the latchfish benefits while the host gets nothing out of it

Could be deemed a parasitic relationship as the host often finds the latchfish irritating, particularly when there's plenty of fish on them (google phoresis later)

Latchfish use hosts to travel great distances using zero energy

This allows them to travel to find new food sources, or general migration

Latchfish are used to hunt other creatures

A rope is tied to the tail of the latchfish, and then when another creature is in sight, the fish is released from the ship. It heads to the creature and attaches itself, and then both are reeled in

A group of babies is referred to as a puddle of latchfish

eggs are released into space, fertilised by males that swim past

babies that hatch will find one another and form a puddle, but they may not necessarily have the same parents - this does not matter

the puddle will grow up together into adulthood, and they are often preyed upon by various predators in their juvenile state

they have very fast reflexes and darting techniques to allow them to dodge prey in open areas

if a puddle can find an asteroid belt, they will hide around it and cling to a single asteroid for safety