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

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Publication reference

ISSN/ISSN: 1742-9994

URL/URL: https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/

Subjects

Biomechanics, Evolution, Farming, Functional morphology - (AUTOR) BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA - (CTI) CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA - (CTI) BIOLOGÍA ANIMAL (ZOOLOGÍA) - (CTI) ZOOLOGÍA MARINA - (CTI) ZOOLOGÍA MARINA - (CTI)

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

http://cibnor.repositorioinstitucional.mx/jspui/handle/1001/1027

Format

application/pdf

Source

Frontiers in Zoology

Language

English

Source repository

Repositorio Institucional CIBNOR

Downloads

298