suctorial

American  

[suhk-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] / sʌkˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr- /

adjective

1. adapted for sucking or suction, as an organ; functioning as a sucker for imbibing or adhering.

2. having sucking organs; imbibing or adhering by suckers.

3. pertaining to or characterized by suction.

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suctorial British  

/ sʌkˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. specialized for sucking or adhering

   the suctorial mouthparts of certain insects

2. relating to or possessing suckers or suction

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Other Word Forms

• nonsuctorial
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of suctorial

1825–35; < New Latin sūctōri ( us ) ( see suctorian) + -al ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

suctorial

The Encyclopedia describes it as of the order of Hexapoda, has firmly chitinized cuticle, and can be recognized by the combination of imperfectly suctorial jaws.

From Time Magazine Archive

A male lamprey eel apparently recognizes sex only by attaching himself with his suctorial mouth to another eel that clings to a rock.

From Time Magazine Archive

By means of the suctorial mouth, stones are removed from more or less circular area so as to form a shallow excavation.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

Pharynx suctorial; branchiae surrounding the body, between the mantle and foot.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various

Alimentary Canal and Gastric Glands.—The alimentary canal in Scorpio, as in Limulus, is provided with a powerful suctorial pharynx, in the working of which extrinsic muscles take a part.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

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