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The pilot fish (''Naucrates ductor'') is a carnivorous fish in the family Carangidae. It is widely distributed and lives in warm or tropical open seas. ==Description== The pilot fish congregates around sharks, rays, and sea turtles, where it eats ectoparasites on, and leftovers around the host species; younger pilot fish are usually associated with jellyfish and drifting seaweeds. They are also known to follow ships, sometimes for long distances; one was found in County Cork, Ireland, and many pilot fish have been sighted on the shores of England.〔 〕 Their fondness for ships led the ancients to believe that they would navigate a ship to its desired course. The pilot fish's color is between dark blue and blackish-silver, with the belly being lighter in color.〔 〕〔Eschmeyer & Herald 1999, p. 208.〕 The pilot fish is also known to have a temporary variation of color when excited; its dark-colored bars disappear, and its body turns silvery-white, with three broad blue patches on its back.〔Eschmeyer & Herald, p. 208.〕 It can be recognized by its five to seven distinctive traverse bands,〔Goldsmith 1810, p. 159.〕 which are of a much darker color than the rest of the body.〔 The pilot fish can grow up to 60–70 cm in length.〔Various sources give different figures: * Eschmayer & Herald 1999, p. 208, claims a maximum of 61 cm, averaging less than 30cm in the studied area (the Pacific). * Randall, Allen & Steen 1997, p. 164, gives a maximum figure of 70 cm, as does FishBase. * An average size of 60cm is given by * An older source gives a figure of "about a foot". See the third volume of . 〕 The pilot fish is harmless to human beings and is said to taste good,〔Orr 1865, p. 50. "Its flesh is said to be very good."〕〔Yarrell 1841, p. 172. "After this the two () fish separated; but they were both taken the same evening, and, when dressed the next day, were found to be excellent eating."〕 but it is rarely available due to its erratic behavior when caught. While pilot fish can be seen with all manner of sharks, they prefer accompanying the oceanic whitetip, ''Carcharhinus longimanus''. The pilot fish's relationship with sharks is a mutualist one; the pilot fish gains protection from predators, while the shark gains freedom from parasites. It was often said by sailors that sharks and pilot fish share something like a "close companionship";〔Couch 1863, p. 110–111.〕 there were even tales of this fish following ships which had captured "their" shark for up to six weeks〔 〕 and showing signs of distress in its absence. Whatever the veracity of such reports, it is extremely rare that a shark will feed on a pilot fish, and smaller pilot fish are frequently observed swimming into sharks' mouths to clean away fragments of food from between their teeth. As Herman Melville put it, These observations have led to the pilot fish's distinctive markings being copied for decals supplied as shark protection for surfboards.〔 See also the (Shark Camo website ).〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「pilot fish」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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