SANFORD, C. P.; WILGA, C. D. *; Hofstra University, Long Island; University of Rhode Island: THE EFFECTS OF SUCTION GENERATION ON PREY CAPTURE IN BAMBOO SHARKS.

Suction feeding is the most common means of prey capture in fishes. In contrast to the large body of literature on suction feeding in teleosts, sharks have received little attention. Furthermore, no studies have yet explored how suction pressures generated in the mouth cavity during inflow of water translate to pressure changes in front of the mouth at the position of the prey. Whitespotted bamboo sharks, Chiloscyllium plagiosum, are strong suction feeders and feed readily while resting on the substrate. Suction pressure at the position of the prey was recorded at specific locations in front of the mouth of the shark. Predator and prey behavior was recorded simultaneously using high-speed video. Maximum drop in pressure at the prey was achieved quickly during suction feeding and on average was smaller in magnitude than in the mouth cavity. Mean suction pressure attenuates rapidly with distance from the front of the mouth. However, a drop in pressure, and therefore water velocity, is still evident at much greater distances than that reported for teleosts using other techniques. Interestingly, the mean pressures generated at the prey do not vary significantly when the pressure transducer is positioned in an arc from a line directly in front of the mouth indicating that the water inflow into the mouth is uniform and not anteriorly directed. Thus, the angular position of the prey relative to the front of the mouth will have a minimal impact on feeding success.