O’REILLY, J.C.*; INFANTE, C.R.; FENOLIO, D.B.; DEBAN, S.M.; University of Miami, Coral Gables FL; Harvard University, Cambridge MA; University of Miami, Coral Gables FL; University of South Florida, Tampa FL: Prey Capture in �Macrophagous� Tadpoles

Generalized tadpoles (e.g., Rana) filter very small food items from the water column or from a suspension generated by scrapping with keratinized jaw sheaths. The upper and lower jaws are protracted simultaneously, and the lower jaw depressors power upper jaw protrusion via a suite of tendons. Regardless of dietary content, food enters the oral cavity in suspension and is filtered at the branchial arches before being swallowed. We examined the prey capture mechanism of larval Theloderma, Hymenochirus and Lepidobatrachus; three independently evolved macrophagous tadpoles. Theloderma, like generalized tadpoles, possess well-developed keratinized jaw sheaths and protract the upper jaw during mouth opening. They are facultatively macrophagous and readily feed on both mosquito larvae and tubificid worms. Theloderma use both jaw prehension and suction feeding to capture prey items, which they ingest rapidly using hydraulic transport. Hymenochirus lacks keratinized mouthparts, is obligatorily macrophagous and only utilizes suction feeding. During prey capture, lower jaw depression powers the extension of its tube-shaped mouth. Lepidobatrachus is also obligatorily macrophagous and capable of eating very large prey relative to its own body size. Unlike Theloderma and Hymenochirus, Lepidobatrachus displays no jaw protraction and prey is generally consumed with a combination of ram and suction feeding. All three species clearly target and attack individual prey items with explosive, episodic feeding behavior in contrast to the rhythmic �grazing� seen during feeding in most tadpoles.