The feeding mechanism of sharks of the family Carcharhinidae

Abstract

The morphology of thefeedingapparatus in several genera of carcharhinid sharks (Carcharhinus, Rhizoprionodon, Hypoprion, Prionace, Galeocerdo and Negaprion) was studied in both fresh and preserved states. The actions of the cranial musculature were determined through electrical stimulation. The feeding behaviours of representatives of the genera Carcharhinus, Negaprion and Galeocerdo were studied under controlled conditions by direct observation as well as photographically. The cranial anatomy of carcharhinid sharks is characterized by a relatively reduced chondrocranium and a greatly hypertrophied musculature. The hyostylic jaw suspension serves to allow substantial cranial kinesis, particularly with respect to the upper jaw. Protraction of this skeletal element is accomplished in at least two ways, depending on the external and internal forces applied to the palatoquadrate cartilage. Under one set of conditions upper jaw protraction serves to allow precision when feeding on benthic organisms. Under quite different conditions upper jaw protraction allows the jaw to cut deeply through food items too large to be swallowed whole. The feeding mechanism found in these sharks, therefore, seems to be well adapted to deal with a wide variety of food types.

Mandibular and hyoid muscles of galeomorph sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii), with remarks on their phylogenetic intrarelationships

“…We observed a single sheet of muscle in Lamniformes, agreeing with Luther (), Compagno (), Shirai (), Huber et al (), and Wilga (). In contrast with Moss (), Compagno (), Motta et al (), Wilga and Motta (), Wilga (), and Nakaya et al (), that used the term “m. levator palatoquadrati” to this single muscle, the term “m.…”

“…Other variations in mandibular and hyoidean muscles have been discussed as putative characters to clarify relationships at less inclusive levels, such as within Orectolobiformes (Shirai, 1996;Goto, 2001) and Carcharhiniformes (Nakaya, 1975;Compagno, 1988). Mandibular and hyoid arch muscles of galeomorphs were also described in studies focusing on patterns of the trigeminal nerve (Luther, 1909a;Casas et al, 2005), in descriptive and comparative anatomical works (Daniel, 1934;Edgeworth, 1935;Denison, 1937;Kesteven, 1943), and in papers on functional morphology (Moss, 1972(Moss, , 1977(Moss, , 1981Lima et al, 1997;Motta et al, 1997Motta et al, , 2002Motta and Wilga, 1999;Wilga and Motta, 2000;Huber et al, 2005;Wilga, 2005;Nakaya et al, 2008). As a consequence, there is much descriptive information in the literature that may aid new myological comparisons or even provide useful phylogenetic information.…”

Prey capture kinematics in batoids using different prey types: Investigating the role of the cephalic lobes

“…Elasmobranchs are less well studied in this regard. Some carcharhinids have shown the ability to modulate feeding behavior based on prey type, size or presentation (Moss, ; Tricas and McCosker, ; Frazzetta and Prange, ; Motta et al, ), though most specialized suction feeding sharks displayed less modulatory ability (Ferry‐Graham, 1997, 1998; Edmonds et al, ; Motta et al, ; Matott et al, ). Indeed, some of the few feeding kinematic studies on batoids illustrate modulation in feeding behavior.…”

Fluid dynamics of feeding behaviour in white-spotted bamboo sharks

“…In spite of this conservatism, most of these fishes are capable of modulating the kinematics of the feeding behaviour in response to prey type, prey size or stage (strike, process, transport, swallow) (Moss, 1972;Liem, 1978;Lauder, 1981;Frazzetta and Prange, 1987;Motta et al, 1997;Nemeth, 1997a;Nemeth, 1997b;Ferry-Graham, 1998;Wilga and Motta, 1998a;Wilga and Motta, 1998b;Friel and Wainwright, 1998;Pretlow-Edmonds, 1999;Ferry-Graham et al, 2001). In particular, suction strikes are typically shorter in duration than bite strikes, and suction transports are shorter than suction strikes (Gillis and Lauder, 1995;Wilga and Motta, 1998a;Wilga and Motta, 1998b;Motta et al, 1997;Westneat, 2006;Motta, 2004).…”