KAJIURA, Stephen M*; FORNI, Jesica B; SUMMERS, Adam P; TYMINSKI, John P; WILLIAMS, Audrey T; Florida Atlantic University; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Irvine; Mote Marine Laboratory; Florida Atlantic University: Sexual dimorphism in elasmobranch fishes Sexually dimorphic head shape is well documented in vertebrates from teleosts to mammals. However, only a single example […]

ELZEY, S.P.; University of New Hampshire: Sexual Dental Dimorphism in Four Species of Skates From The Western Gulf Of Maine Tooth morphology of four species of skate found in the Western Gulf of Maine was examined. These species were the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), the winter skate (L. ocellata), the smooth skate (Malacoraja senta), and […]

RIVERA, G; Clemson University, Clemson: Morphological variation in a species of freshwater turtle (Pseudemys concinna) inhabiting different flow regimes Species with populations that inhabit a wide range of environments frequently display morphological variations that correlate with differences in environmental parameters. Water velocity is a critical feature of aquatic habitats that could impose selection for drag-reducing […]

KLEY, NJ; Stony Brook University: Form and function of the hyolingual apparatus in blindsnakes (Serpentes: Scolecophidia) Tongue flicking is a chemosensory behavior known to occur widely among squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes). In general, tongue flicking is thought to be most highly developed in advanced snakes (Colubroidea), which exhibit rapid, multiple oscillation flicks. In contrast, […]

ADRIAENS, D*; GEERINCKX, T; HUYSENTRUYT, F; SCHAEFER, SA; HERREL, A; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; American Museum of Natural History, New York; Antwerp University, Belgium: Evolution of trophic specialisations in Neotropical catfishes: more than a mouthful In 1986, Schaefer and Lauder presented a case study on structural innovations in loricarioid catfishes, […]

JORDAN, L.K.; Univ. of California, Los Angeles: Ecomorphology of Stingray Mechanosensory and Electrosensory Systems (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea) Elasmobranch fishes (sharks, skates, and rays) demonstrate remarkable sensory capabilities which are used for a variety of purposes including locating and capturing prey. This study relates the feeding ecology of stingray species representing the benthic, benthopelagic, and pelagic habitats […]

CORNETT, A.D.; Florida Atlantic University: Ecomorphology of Shark Electroreceptors Sharks are morphologically very diverse and are found in nearly every marine environment. In addition, all sharks possess an electrosensory system that enables them to detect environmental electric fields. However, how this sensory system varies among taxa and in different environments remains unexplored. I studied the […]

FERRY-GRAHAM, L.A.*; GIBB, A.C.; California State Univeristy/Moss Landing Marine Labs; Northern Arizona University: Do teleost fishes with different mechanisms of premaxillary protrusion produce functionally similar behaviors? Premaxillary (upper jaw) protrusion in teleost fishes is a key innovation thought to improve prey-capture performance, although the mechanisms underlying this behavior are poorly understood. We examined phylogenetically disparate […]

BOND, C; Greensboro College, North Carolina: Comparative Time-Lapse Studies of Two Different Sponge Designs Most time-lapse microscopy studies on sponges have been done on those with leuconoid canal architecture (seen in a majority of sponges). This present study has initiated time-lapse examinations of live asconoid sponges. It was hoped that recording asconoid sponges, with their […]

BUTCHER, MT*; CHASE, PB; HERMANSON, JW; BERTRAM, JE; CLARK, AN; SYME, DA; Univ. of Calgary; Florida State Univ.; Cornell Univ.; Univ. of Calgary; Florida State Univ.; Univ. of Calgary: Work and power characteristics of skinned fibers from the deep and superficial digital flexor muscles in the forelimbs of horses The objective involved making measurements of […]