Issues

Cover: The fish gill ectoparasite Diplozoon paradoxum (Monogenea) uses four pairs of haptoral (posterior) clamps to secure its attachment onto its host. An efficient functioning of this attachment system is essential for its survival. Wong and Gorb (pp. 3008−3014) studied the attachment forces of the monogeneans and the contribution of muscle action to their clamp movements. They found that the monogenean closes its clamps when the associated muscles are in a relaxed state and, vice versa, muscle action opens the clamps. The results suggest that the monogeneans can maintain their life-long attachment to the host with a minimum consumption of energy. Photo credit: W.-L. Wong.