ANDERSON, Noah, J*; ANDERSON, Curtis, W.; Idaho State University; Idaho State University: Kinematics of aquatic feeding in the softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera, with comments on the role of suction in turtle feeding.

Generation of negative buccal pressure is a necessary component of aquatic feeding for many vertebrates. While past studies found similar mechanics of the jaw and hyoid apparatus in several species of turtles, the role of suction feeding in this group is debated. Two components of suction feeding, compensatory and inertial suction feeding, have been proposed for this group. I studied the kinematics of feeding in the softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera, which are thought to feed using inertial suction. Kinematic analysis suggests that while jaw and hyoid mechanics are similar to other species of turtles, this species differs in several important aspects. First, static prey is contacted prior to initiation of the feeding sequence, hence any bow wave from head and/or the body has proceeded past the prey by the time feeding is initiated. Secondly, the lips occlude the corners of the mouth during the gape cycle, which may assist feeding and possibly eliminate the need for head rotation during feeding. Lastly, for some feeding sequences, the neck moves in reverse, rather than forward motion (i.e., striking) that is commonly reported in turtles. The kinematics of prey capture in A. spinifera will be compared to other species of aquatic feeding turtles.