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Haptor
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The haptor is a part of a parasitic ,, used to attach to its host. We differ between the prohaptor which is the anterior end of the body and the opisthaptor which is part of the posterior end of the body. The prohaptor, has various adhesive and feeding structures. In some species, the prohaptor may have a number of cephalic or head glands that secrete a sticky adhesive substance, and shallow muscular suckers, all used for attachment. In other species there is an oral sucker, with various degrees of muscularisation that surrounds the mouth. The opisthaptor is primarily responsible for the attachment of the monogeneans to the host. The morphology of the opisthaptor is highly variable. It may have suckers in various degrees of development, large hooks called anchors (or hamuli), small hooks that are remnants from the larval stage, or complex clamps that may be either muscular or sclerotised. |
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