A morphological novelty for feeding and sound production in the yellowtail clownfish

[en] The yellowtail clownfish Amphiprion clarkii is able to close its mouth very quickly by means of the cerato-mandibular (c-md) ligament, a synapomorphic trait of Pomacentridae joining the hyoid bar to the medial part of the lower jaw. This fast closure induces tooth collision, thus producing sounds that the clownfish uses during agonistic behaviors. To investigate whether this rapid jaw movement is also used during feeding, we analyzed the kinematics of sound production and feeding. Sound production, feeding on live planktonic prey, and feeding on food attached to tweezers were filmed with a high-speed camera. Three kinds of kinematic patterns were detected and were associated with the two different types of food presented: one performed to catch planktonic prey (PP), and two (called B-1 and B-2) to bite attached food items. The kinematic pattern of B-2 is similar to that observed during sound production (SP) and the transection of the c-md ligament highlights that sound production and biting-2 motions are dependent on this morphological trait. Our data show that the c-md ligament in addition to its role in sound production allows duplication of the mouth closing mechanism during feeding. This highlights the key role played by the c-md ligament in sound production and feeding on attached prey.

Research Center/Unit :

AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège

Disciplines :

Zoology

Author, co-author :

Olivier, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive

Frederich, Bruno ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive

Herrel, Anthony

Parmentier, Eric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive

Language :

English

Title :

A morphological novelty for feeding and sound production in the yellowtail clownfish

Publication date :

2015

Journal title :

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Comparative Experimental Biology

ISSN :

1548-8969

eISSN :

1552-499X

Publisher :

Wiley, Hoboken, United States - New Jersey

Volume :

323A

Pages :

227-238

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique

Available on ORBi :

since 12 January 2015

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