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Functional morphology of the head of Hawaiian and Mid-Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae)

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The functional morphology of the jaws of six species of butterflyfishes was investigated and related to their feeding behaviors. Utilizing observations and measurements of fresh-killed specimens as well as scanning electron microscopy of their dentitions, interspecific differences in the size, shape, orientation of the mouth, dentition, degree and function of jaw protrusion were related to their different feeding behaviors. The jaws of the six species showed a variety of adaptations for feeding on or over the reef as well as a repertoire of modulated jaw movements hitherto unnoticed in many studies. This radiation in morphologies was believed to be due to relatively simple changes of a few structural elements, changes that could occur relatively rapidly in the evolutionary time scale. The benefit of naturalistic observations in such functional morphological studies was emphasized.

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  1. Philip J. Motta

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Montana, 59812, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, 96822, Honolulu, HI, U.S.A.

    Philip J. Motta

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Motta, P.J. Functional morphology of the head of Hawaiian and Mid-Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae). Environ Biol Fish 13, 253–276 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002910

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