Functional morphology of the leg musculature in the marine seal louse: adaptations for high-performance attachment to diving hosts
Anika Preuss, Thomas van de Kamp, Elias Hamann, Marcus Zuber, Lina Ornowski, Stanislav N. Gorb · 2025
Read Functional morphology of the leg musculature in the marine seal louse: adaptations for high-performance attachment to diving hosts by Anika Preuss, Thomas van de Kamp, Elias Hamann, Marcus Zuber, Lina Ornowski, Stanislav N. Gorb (2025) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-12749021.txt.
Description
Anika Preuss and co-authors study how the seal louse clings to diving seals without being torn off. Their 2025 paper compares the louse's legs with those of the human head louse, a land-based relative. The seal louse endures deep pressure, strong drag, salt water, and shifting temperatures on its host.
Using X-ray tomography and laser microscopy, the team found a compact, sturdy leg design. The louse has a fused lower leg segment, an extra set of leg muscles, and a shortened claw tendon, a trait not seen in other insects. These traits boost grip force while saving energy. Tests showed the louse moves well only on hair-like surfaces, tying it fully to host fur.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Anika Preuss, Thomas van de Kamp, Elias Hamann, Marcus Zuber, Lina Ornowski, Stanislav N. Gorb |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2025 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 40 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |