holdfast

…ends of the stalks called holdfasts. Some fossil and living forms release themselves to move to new attachment areas. The unstalked crinoids (feather stars) generally swim by thrashing their numerous arms up and down in a coordinated way; for example, in a 10-armed species, when arms 1, 3, 5, 7,…

…have evolved that function as holdfasts, anchoring the fish to rocks or similar objects. The hill stream loaches (Balitoridae) of southeastern Asia possess a large ventral suction disk formed by the expanded pectoral and pelvic fins. Some of the mountain stream catfishes (Sisoridae) of Asia have an adhesive organ on…