JANOVETZ, J.; Sweet Briar College: The Functional Morphology of Prey Capture in Serrasalmine Fishes Despite being the characteristic method of feeding for a number of species-rich and ecologically important groups, the kinematics of biting prey capture in fishes have rarely been investigated. This study compares both biting and suction prey capture in three species of […]

PATEK, Sheila N.; CALDWELL, Roy L.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley: Snail smashing forces of the peacock mantis shrimp Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) use a specialized pair of forelimbs, the raptorial appendages, to smash open snail shells. The appendages accelerate to extreme speeds within milliseconds, producing high impact forces as well […]

REILLY, S.M.; MCBRAYER, L.D.*; Ohio University; Stephen F. Austin State University: Prey capture and prey processing behavior and the evolution of lingual and sensory characteristics: divergences and convergences in lizard feeding biology A central element of the sit-and-wait vs. wide foraging paradigm involves the tradeoff between prey capture function and chemosensory acuity. In general ambush […]

SUSTAITA, Diego; HERTEL, Fritz; California State University, Northridge; California State University, Northridge: Myology and biomechanics of the hindlimb and jaw of North American hawks and falcons in relation to bite and grip force Previous studies have indicated that differences in hindlimb and beak characteristics among raptors reflect differences in predatory mode and prey habits. Falcons […]

DUMONT, E.R*; PICCIRILLO, J.; GROSSE, I.R.; University of Massachusetts at Amherst; University of Massachusetts at Amherst; University of Massachusetts at Amherst: Morphology meets engineering: Finite element analyses of biting behavior in bats Field-based studies of feeding behavior in mammals demonstrate that mammals with similar ecological niches and craniofacial morphologies often use significantly different biting styles […]

MEYERS, J.J.*; HERREL, A.; NISHIKAWA, K.C.; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; University of Antwerp, Belgium; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff: Modelling of bite force in horned lizards (Phrynosoma): functional adaptations in a specialized clade The North American horned lizards (Phrynosoma) have long been noted for their myrmecophagous (ant-eating) behavior. However, the degree of dietary fidelity varies dramatically […]

TURINGAN, R.G.*; BECK, J.L.; Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne; Texas A & M, Galveston: Early ontogeny of prey capture performance in the teleost fish, Sciaenops ocellatus The kinematics of prey capture in the teleost fish (red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae was analyzed to explore stage-specific differences in feeding performance during early ontogeny. Larvae at first-feeding […]

WHITENACK, L.B.; MOTTA, P.J.; KOOB, T.J.; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; Shriners Hospital for Children, Tampa: A preliminary analysis of selachian tooth performance Feeding performance plays an important role in overall fitness. An organism must be able to capture prey to grow, survive, and reproduce. Tooth morphology contributes to feeding performance, and […]

YANEGA, G.; RUBEGA, M.A.; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs; Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs: A comparative study of the functional morphology of insectivory in hummingbirds Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are a speciose family of birds whose diets are composed of both arthropod prey and floral nectars. It has been hypothesized that the selective pressures driving variation in beak length […]

CHAN, S.-M.; The University of Hong Kong: Vitellogenin and vitellogenesis in decapod crustaceans: knowledge from proteomic and molecular studies Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor for one of the major yolk proteins that supplies the embryos and larvae with nutrients for development and growth. During ovarian maturation of decapod crustaceans, vitellogenins are synthesized and transported to […]