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OBSERVATIONS ON THE BUCCAL GLANDS OF LAMPREYS (PETROMYZONIDAE)
Author(s) -
BAXTER E. W.
Publication year - 1956
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1956.tb00462.x
Subject(s) - buccal administration , metamorphosis , biology , zoology , secretion , flatworm , ecology , endocrinology , larva , bioinformatics
SUMMARY1 The buccal glands of lampreys develop during metamorphosis and occur in the adults of both the parasitic and non‐parasitic species. 2 Their form varies little in sexually mature lampreys. 3 In the young feeding stages of the sea‐lampreys the glands are relatively much larger and appear to be more active than in the sexually mature adults of the same species. 4 The secretion of the buccal glands is shown to prevent the clotting of blood even when the secretion is obtained from the glands of non‐parasitic lampreys. 5 The significance of this is discussed and it is suggested that the nonparasitic lampreys are neotenous forms living in a restricted environment, but which have not lost the anatomical features possessed by their parasitic relatives.