Kicker: The ultimate freeloaders

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NICK EICHER, HOST: Off the coast of Australia, scientists studying humpback whales discovered they weren’t alone.

Their whale-cams kept getting photobombed by free-riders.

They’re called remoras—popularly known as sucker fish—tiny hitchhikers that vacuum-seal themselves to whales for an all-expenses-paid trip across the ocean.

But when the whales try to give their stowaways the slip, the remoras have a move of their own.

Here’s researcher Olaf Meynecke:

OLAF MEYNECKE: They knew exactly when to let go of the body of the whale before it was breaching the surface of the water.

And seconds later, the fish glide right back into place —like synchronized swimmers.

Scientists say the whales don’t really love the company. And the remoras probably don’t love the nickname they’ve been stuck with.

Because when you think about it … who’s the sucker?

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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