Biomechanics Suction feeding by a tiny predatory tadpole

Pipid tadpoles of the African genus Hymenochirus are not only among the smallest free-swimming, feeding vertebrates, but are also predatory suction feeders - unlike other tadpoles, which typically ingest a suspension of organic particles. Here we use a high-speed video system to study details of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2002-11, Vol.420 (6911), p.41-42
Main Authors: Deban, Stephen M, Olson, Wendy M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biology
Biomechanics
Frogs
Mechanics
Mouth
Reynolds number
Swimming
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Pipid tadpoles of the African genus Hymenochirus are not only among the smallest free-swimming, feeding vertebrates, but are also predatory suction feeders - unlike other tadpoles, which typically ingest a suspension of organic particles. Here we use a high-speed video system to study details of the feeding mechanics of Hymenochirus boettgeri tadpoles and find that they first track individual prey organisms visually, and chase and then capture them by mouth using suction. This feeding mechanism is unique among frogs and is strikingly convergent with that used by teleost fishes.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/420041a