noun
- a small fish that often swims alongside larger fish, especially sharks, feeding on parasites and scraps
Usage: usually singular or plural; marine biology term
Examples
- The pilotfish darted around the shark, picking off dead skin and parasites.
- Pilotfish are known for their symbiotic relationship with larger ocean predators.
- A pilotfish followed the manta ray through the coral reef.
- The young pilotfish attached itself to a passing whale shark.
- Divers observed several pilotfish swimming in formation with a grouper.