The Adhesive Mechanisms of Monogenetic Trematodes: the Attachment of Species of the Diclidophoridae to the Gills of Gadoid Fishes

Abstract

An investigation of the adhesive mechanisms in all nine species of the genus Diclidophora has shown that there is a common structure consisting of a pair of hinged jaws operated by intrinsic muscles and also by a more powerful extrinsic muscle which acts on a diaphragm to produce a suction pressure that is converted into a clamping action. This investigation has revealed errors in Cerfontaine's and other descriptions of the anatomy of Diclidophora adhesive organs, but substantiates Cerfontaine account of the adhesive mechanism, and therefore disagrees completely with the more recent account given by Sproston.