Documentation of remora (Remora remora) attachment to a nesting olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Playa Pejeperro, Costa Rica

Despite being known to regularly associate with diverse marine megafauna, the complexity, stability, and drivers underlying remora symbioses remain largely understudied. Recent studies have documented the presence and persistence of remora associations even in the face of physiologically challenging conditions and have indicated that remora-host symbioses may be more selective than previously understood. Here, we contribute to this growing body of knowledge by documenting an observation of a live remora (Remora remora) remaining attached to a nesting olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) after the turtle had emerged from the ocean to nest on Pejeperro Beach, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Although remora attachment on nesting turtles has been previously described, this observation adds meaningful insight into the geographic range, frequency, and species involved in these interactions. Continued observation and documentation of cryptic behavior is critical for improving scientific understanding of these relationships and may indicate that associations between remoras and individual hosts may be more obligate than previously understood.