Nature of the "irregular"

Conger eel consumption as "irregular" study finds Pike have special internal jaw, food into the esophagus http://www.thebeijingnews.com AB Beijing news sources:

Pike place palate in eating.

A is the normal state before eating, jaw was hiding in the back of the head; B to eat, helping a predator in the jaw. Information pictures

In the film "alien", alien monsters suddenly put out from the deep throat in a pointed teeth, jaw, and the prey is inhaled, is terrible.

But in reality, there is an animal with a similar strong Chin, this is the Pike. Scientists recently discovered conger eel and throat with toothed inner JAWS can prey directly into the esophagus.

Through a series of experiments, UC Davis scientists recently discovered the eel in the throat hidden inside another extremely flexible in the palate, it can play to help chewing mouth.

However, and brutal "profiled", the movie Monster inside jaw will be extremely cruel to tear prey, Pike's is more practical in the jaw. Researchers, biological evolutionist Rita · meta (RitaMehta) said that the eel is using its internal jaw to seize large prey, and to assist if swallowed.

Pike will chew

The majority of fish are generally rely on "sucker Dafa" to capture their prey, when prey near at hand, they will soon open mouth aspiration into the prey, then borrow pressure will fall prey to even water absorption into the body directly Digest.

But the "sucker Dafa" has certain limitations. First of all, the game should not be too large, otherwise it'll suck not into the throat. Secondly, such a hunt for fish's brain is also required. Near the fish's brain must have a certain amount of space to let your mouth wide open as possible. These limitations for eels that fish is a big problem, because they live in the Coral Sea and the narrow space between the small foods is limited, therefore, they cannot directly to take the prey, but you must use sharp teeth and strong jaw will prey bite pieces so that they even put in a small reef on Zhang didn't big mouth, and also will eat large animals.

In this latest study, scientists have been conjecture Pike will chew food, but they still don't know what a chewable method.

So please be cautious in the palate into

This research report was published in the latest issue of the journal nature.

Experiments, scientists meta and collaborators Peter · million white (PeterWainwright) by high speed camera observed the conger eel eats squids scenes, they found that the eel uses a is located in the throat, very unique within the jaw to chew on prey.

There are many fish, but still within the palate and the eel is essentially the difference.

"Compared with other fish, conger eel in the jaw in the throat with a very different structure. " Meta:" they look like with a big, sharp teeth of tweezers. ”

Moreover, other fish in the jaw movements is very weak, but within the jaw of conger eel with Flex muscle, can produce great power.

This unique feature allows Pike can be repaired immediately from the throat in the mouth, catching live prey, pull it into eating road. Mehta said, this dual jaw system allows Pike can at all times to food.

For this discovery, the University of Chicago field Museum of natural history curator mark ·

Stevns, (MarkWestneat) said, this is quite a startling discovery. He said: "most of the fish have pharyngeal jaws, but most of them are not very rough, no teeth, couldn't move. But the most distinctive within the jaw Pike's point is that it can pull the prey, has been from the mouth to the throat. ”

Compilation: Jin Yu