Title
The cerato-mandibular ligament: a key functional trait for grazing in damselfishes (Pomacentridae)
Author
Damien Olivier
Bruno Frederich
MILTON ALEJANDRO SPANOPOULOS ZARCO
Eduardo Francisco Balart Páez
Eric Parmentier
Access level
Open Access
Publication reference
ISSN/ISSN: 1742-9994
URL/URL: https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/
Subjects
Summary or description
"The success of a taxonomic group can be promoted by a key character that allows the group to interact with its environment in a different way and to potentially occupy new niches. The Pomacentridae possess a synapomorphic trait, the cerato-mandibular (c-md) ligament, which joins the hyoid bar to the inner part of the lower jaw. It has previously been shown that this ligament is a key trait in communication in damselfishes because it enables them to slam the oral jaws shut causing teeth collision and sound production. This specific behavior of mouth closing could, however, also be used for other tasks, such as feeding. Many territorial damselfishes are referred to as farmers, due to their ability to manage algal crops on which they feed. This study hypothesizes that the c-md ligament provides an advantage for grazing filamentous algae, and should thus be considered a key trait for farming behavior."
Publisher
Frontiers Media, S. A.
Publish date
2014
Publication type
Article
Publication version
Published Version
Information Resource
Format
application/pdf
Source
Frontiers in Zoology
Language
English
Source repository
Repositorio Institucional CIBNOR
Downloads
298