Suctorial

Suctorial pertains to the adaptation for sucking or suction,[1] as possessed by marine parasites such as the Cookiecutter shark,[2] specifically in a specialised lip organ enabling attachment to the host.

Suctorial organs of a different form are possessed by the Solifugae arachnids, enabling the climbing of smooth, vertical surfaces.[3]

Another variation on the suctorial organ can be found as part of the glossa proboscis of Masarinae (pollen wasps), enabling nectar feeding from the deep and narrow corolla of flowers.[4]

  1. ^ Dictionary.com, "suctorial," in Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Published by Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/suctorial. Accessed: February 09, 2009
  2. ^ Carol Martins & Craig Knickle. "Megamouth Shark- Parasites". Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  3. ^ Cushinga, P.E., P; Jack O. Brookharta; Hans-Joachim Kleebeb; Gary Zitob; Peter Payne (2005). "The suctorial organ of the Solifugae". Arthropod Structure & Development. 34 (4): 397–406. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2005.02.002.
  4. ^ Krenn, H.W., H; Volker Mauss; John Plant (2002). "Evolution of the suctorial proboscis in pollen wasps". Arthropod Structure & Development. 31 (2): 103–120. doi:10.1016/S1467-8039(02)00025-7. PMID 18088974.