#NatureIsLit - Scientists Discovered Remoras Swimming Up Manta Ray Butts 😭🌊

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Welcome back to another episode of Nature's Lit. And this episode is about to get really weird, really fast. So, apparently scientists just discovered that remoras, you know, the little tiny suckerfish that hitchhike rides on sharks and whales like little aquatic Uber passengers? So, yeah, those things have started hiding inside of the butts of manta rays. I'm going to say that again. Suckerfish are taking up refuge in the butts of manta rays. It's giving peak disrespect. Nature is not okay right now. Not with this one. But, we're going to get into it anyways cuz that's what we do over here. So, let's talk about it. So, scientists are calling this cloacal diving, which already sounds like a rejected Olympic event.

[00:00:41]And if you don't know what a cloaca is, then congratulations on your peaceful life up until this very moment cuz I'm about to tell you. It's basically an all exit door that some animals use for pooping, peeing, and reproduction. One opening, multi-tool design, nature said, "Budget cuts." So, now imagine that you're a beautiful manta ray gliding through the ocean like a giant underwater kite. A remora fish sees a diver, gets panicked, and yeets right up your butt. Like, it's the ocean. You could have hid anywhere. And of course, scientists had the cameras rolling, so they were able to film this entire interaction. So, in the video, the diver startles the remora, and instantly the remora swims right into the manta ray's cloaca. I'll stop saying butt. And the manta ray visibly shudders after the violation. And scientists said that the remoras are just as wide as the cloacal openings, which is scientific language for, "Good lord." And what's even wilder is that for a long time, scientists thought that manta rays and remoras had these symbiotic relationships, which just means that both animals are benefiting from the interactions. Like, the remoras are eating parasites off the manta rays, the manta rays are giving the remora free transportation.

[00:01:48]Everybody wins, right? And now, scientists are looking at this fish like, "Are you a parasite? Because you're doing weird things." Here, they're now seeing that the remoras can actually cause damage to the manta rays and increase drag while swimming all while violating their internal spaces.

[00:02:03]This relationship don't sound symbiotic anymore. And apparently, the remoras aren't just doing this to the manta rays. They've also been caught doing this to whale sharks. They're basically acting like underwater raccoons. If they see an opening, they're going in and they're checking it out. And scientists already believe that the remoras are only doing this because they're trying to find new ways to hide from predators.

[00:02:21]Which is even funnier because this means that their survival strategy is there's danger. Return to the butt hole.

[00:02:27]Evolution literally spent millions of years crafting these majestic manta rays with 26-ft wingspans just for some freeloading fish to use them like a panic room. Nature is crazy but always lit. It's always lit over there. It is for everybody. Don't forget to like, share, and comment. It's always appreciated. Here are some articles so you can go read up on that manta ray and remora relationship. And as always, thanks for rocking with me.