The Morphology of the Adhesive Organ of the Sisorid Fish, Glyptothorax pectinopterus

Abstract

In the sisorid fish, Glyptothorax pectinopterus, the adhesive organ located on the ventral side of the thorax consists of a number of longitudinal ridges and grooves that alternate with each other around a triangular furrow lying in the centre. Adhesion of the fish to the rocky substratum in a hill stream habitat is brought about by the hooked and keratinized epidermal spines borne by the longitudinal ridges of the adhesive organ as well as those on the under surface of the pectoral and pelvic fins. The secretion of a surface coat of mucopolysaccharides by the mucous cells and the goblet cells is a device to protect the adhesive organ from mechanical abrasion.