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Durophagy is the term for describing the eating behavior of animals that consume hard-shelled or exoskeleton bearing organisms, such as corals, shelled mollusks, or crabs [1]. It is mostly used describing fish, but is also used when describing reptiles[2] and invertebrates. Durophagy requires special adaptions, such as blunt, strong teeth and a heavy jaw. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Huber, D.R., M.N. Dean & A.P. Summers (2008): Hard prey, soft jaws and the ontogeny of feeding mechanics in the spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei. Journal of the Royal Society Interface(online publishing) [1]
- ^ Pregil, G. (1984): Durophagous Feeding Adaptations in an Amphisbaenid. Journal of Herpetology 18, No. 2 pp 186-191 [2]
- ^ Huber, D.R. & al. (2005): Analysis of the bite force and mechanical design of the feeding mechanism of the durophagous horn shark Heterodontus francisci. The Journal of Experimental Biology 208, pp 3553-3571 [3]
[edit] See also
List of feeding behaviours
