David Ingersoll, age 12, of Biloxi, Miss., for his question:

WHAT FISH FOLLOWS THE SHARK?

The shark and other large fish are often closely accompanied as they slowly swim by a streamlined scavenger called the pilot fish. This fish is found in temperate and tropical seas around the world and is often found swimming next to slow moving vessels.

Pilot fish have been known to remain close to floating or moving objects for long periods of time. Often they stay for several months.

In Greek mythology the pilot fish was believed to guide lost ships to port and was held sacred.

Blue gray in color and reaching a length of about two feet, the pilot fish have four small spines anterior to the dorsal fish and five or six dark vertical bands on the body.

The young pilot fish, conspicuously different than their parents and grotesque in appearance, have large eyes and spines about the head. They often seclude themselves under seaweed anti jellyfish, including the Portuguese man of war.