Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Deep-sea fishes have a variety of skull forms, or morphologies, that correspond to their feedingtype. Suction feeders expand their mouths to suck in prey, while biters have large teeth to capture and tear into prey. Many fishes have a second set of jaws, the pharyngeal jaw, in the back of the throat to help ingest and process their catch. We are investigating suction-feeding and biting morphologies to determine if the depth of the fishes' habitat influences the feeding diversity of deep-sea fishes. To find our results, we measured eight fish skulls from the Synaphobranchidae, Macrouridae, Ipnopidae, Ophidiidae, and Liparidae families to analyze the structures that pertain to feeding. Measurements were done using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans of fish heads and the software 3D Slicer.The fishdetermined to be suction feeders were found in depths ranging from 200 meters to 8,300 meters. Fish determined to be biters were found in depths ranging from 90 meters to 7,500 meters.Due to the lever mechanics of a suction-feeder's jaw, these fishescancatch their prey faster than biters. While many fishes appear similar from the outside, they have many feeding adaptations that help them survive in the deep sea.
Recommended Citation
Rose-Morley, Tristin, "138-Feeding Morphology of Deep-Sea Fishes" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 33.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/33
138-Feeding Morphology of Deep-Sea Fishes
Deep-sea fishes have a variety of skull forms, or morphologies, that correspond to their feedingtype. Suction feeders expand their mouths to suck in prey, while biters have large teeth to capture and tear into prey. Many fishes have a second set of jaws, the pharyngeal jaw, in the back of the throat to help ingest and process their catch. We are investigating suction-feeding and biting morphologies to determine if the depth of the fishes' habitat influences the feeding diversity of deep-sea fishes. To find our results, we measured eight fish skulls from the Synaphobranchidae, Macrouridae, Ipnopidae, Ophidiidae, and Liparidae families to analyze the structures that pertain to feeding. Measurements were done using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans of fish heads and the software 3D Slicer.The fishdetermined to be suction feeders were found in depths ranging from 200 meters to 8,300 meters. Fish determined to be biters were found in depths ranging from 90 meters to 7,500 meters.Due to the lever mechanics of a suction-feeder's jaw, these fishescancatch their prey faster than biters. While many fishes appear similar from the outside, they have many feeding adaptations that help them survive in the deep sea.