Suckermouth
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In fishes a suckermouth is a ventrally orientated mouth adapted for grazing on algae and small organisms that grow on submerged objects.
All Loricariidae possess a suckermouth as do the algae eaters of the genus Gyrinocheilus. The 'False Siamensis' (Epalzeorhynchus sp. or Garra taeniata) also has this feature. The Loricariidae and members of the genus Gyrinocheilus are further adapted by having a special opening on the gill cover so that the fish can breath without using its mouth.[1]
Additionally many other fish of the order Cypriniformes have developed a sucking ability to a lesser or greater extent:
- the Hillstream loaches (family Balitoridae) have modified fins to attach themselves to a surface and a ventrally located mouth.
- The sucker fish (family Catostomidae) also have a modified mouth.
- Even the some carp (family Cyprinid) have a 'partial suckermouth' - often taking small stones into their mouths to remove nutritious growth on the surface and hence giving the impression that they are sucking the stone like a boiled sweet.
In general many benthic dwelling or feeding fish will have a suckermouth feature
Whilst all these fish have a limited sucking ability - they are able to swallow their food - it is not necessarily correct to assume that they can attach themselves to a submerged object by suction - though their behaviour may give that impression - the orientation of their fins and a flow of water can give sufficient downward force to temporarily attach themselves to an object.
[edit] See also
Lamprey Uses teeth to attach itself to a host.
Remora known as suckerfish.
Leech The anterior portion (not the mouth) of this animal is modified to attach itself to a host.
