Modulation and variability of prey capture kinematics
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).