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Jaw muscle activation patterns of several Batoids

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Abstract

Fishes may increase the flexibility of their feeding apparatus with a specialized morphology or by altering their behavior during capture or processing. Alternatively, fishes can modulate the timing of jaw muscle activation between the left and right sides of the head. Batoids have a unique cranial morphology including an overall flattened body shape, euhyostylic jaw suspension and typically, a loose symphysis at the jaw midline. These features promote flexibility and mobility of the jaws during feeding. Several batoid species have shown asymmetrical movements of their jaws, enabling them to diversify their feeding habits. Using two asynchrony indices, we investigated pairwise activation of the jaw muscles in four species of batoids in order to compare synchronous versus asynchronous activation patterns during prey capture and processing. The four species we investigated all use synchronous activation when feeding on small or large pieces of squid, in contrast to previous studies. Therefore, we recommend future studies that utilize complex prey in order to attempt to elicit asynchronous behaviors.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by a Fairfield University Faculty Research Grant and NSF grant IOS-1354469 to SPG, a Hardiman Scholarship to LKB, a Hardiman Scholarship to AJK and a Lawrence Scholarship to DLN. We would like to thank Mason Dean for his advice on the experimental methods and Clinton Moran for comments that improved this manuscript. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824, USA

    S. P. Gerry, L. K. Brodeur, M. DeCaprio, A. J. Khursigara, S. Mazzeo & D. L. Neubauer

  2. Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), 250 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    L. K. Brodeur

  3. Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt Carmel Ave, Hamden, CT, 06518, USA

    M. DeCaprio

  4. The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA

    A. J. Khursigara

  5. New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Northern Boulevard, P.O. Box 8000, Old Westbury, NY, 11568-8000, USA

    S. Mazzeo

  6. University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT, 06117, USA

    D. L. Neubauer

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  1. S. P. Gerry
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  2. L. K. Brodeur
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  3. M. DeCaprio
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  4. A. J. Khursigara
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  5. S. Mazzeo
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  6. D. L. Neubauer
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Correspondence to S. P. Gerry.

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Gerry, S.P., Brodeur, L.K., DeCaprio, M. et al. Jaw muscle activation patterns of several Batoids. Environ Biol Fish 102, 1193–1200 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00901-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00901-7

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