|
Huysentruyt
and co-workers (2004, see lab publications) showed that the species with jaw adductor hypertrophy
have a less diverse diet. According to a hypothesis in
evolutionary biology, such
trophic specialists are expected to be less flexible in their feeding
capacities compared to species feeding on a wide range of different prey
(trophic generalists such as Clarias gariepinus).
In this part of our catfish project, we quantified the variability in
prey capture kinematics in response to different prey types and
different prey positions and tested this hypothesis within this group
of fishes. More information can be found in: Modulation and variability of prey
capture kinematics in clariid catfishes by Van Wassenbergh, S.,
Herrel, A., Adriaens, D. and Aerts, P.
J. Exp. Zool. 305A: 559-569. full text (PDF)  
Frontal view images from high-speed videos of Clarias gariepinus
feeding on two different prey types: a piece of fish (left) and a shrimp
(right).
|