Biological Suction Cups

Pelvic Adhesive Discs

The pelvic adhesive discs of a lumpsucker, snailfish, and clingfish

A number of fish families have independently evolved specialized adhesive discs that generate suction and help them hitch rides across the ocean or stay put in high-flow environments. I currently study fishes with ventral adhesive discs comprised of modified pelvic girdle elements (Cyclopteridae and Liparidae) or pelvic and pectoral girdle elements (Gobiesocidae). Impressively, these adhesive discs adhere well underwater and on rough surfaces as well as remain functional even when the animal has died. Thus, adhesive discs provide a fruitful source of inspiration for bio-inspired technology.

I am interested in understanding how pelvic adhesive discs perform under diverse biological scenarios and the the evolution of the anatomies that underlie their success. To that end, my approach involves comparing lineages and generating bio-inspired models to test specific form-function relationships. We find that performance is influenced by different aspects of of disc anatomy (i.e., skeletal morphology, surface microstructure, and tissue composition) as well as behavior. Live clingfish are able to modulate their adhesive forces in response to flow and generate more suction when alive than dead. My collaborators and I have also begun to assess the ecomorphological relationships between adhesive discs and their environment. We have some evidence that variation in clingfish, lumpsucker, and snailfish adhesive performance reflects differences in their hydrodynamic environment, as species that generate more suction are regularly exposed to more dynamic waves and currents. I am also assessing the evolutionary relationship between disc morphology and preferred substrate use in clingfishes.

Relevant publications:

  • Huie JM, Wainwright DK, Summers AP, Cohen KE. 2022. Sticky, stickier, and stickiest - a comparison of adhesive performance in clingfish, lumpsuckers, and snailfish. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(22), jeb244821. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.244821
  • Huie JM, Summers AP. 2022. The effects of soft and rough substrates on suction-based adhesion. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(9), jeb243773. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243773
  • Arnette SD, Donatelli CM, Rosen, J, Hawkins OH, Huie JM. 2025. Clinging for shear life: active input improves adhesion in the northern clingfish. Integrative and Comparative Biology, icaf120. doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaf120