<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Many studies have yet been conducted on suction feeding in aquatic salamander species. Within the Salamandridae, the crested newt <italic>Triturus dobrogicus</italic> (Kiritzescu, 1903), occurring from the Austrian Danube floodplains to the Danube Delta, was not subject of investigations so far. The present study examines the kinematics of aquatic suction feeding in this species by means of high-speed videography. Recordings of five individuals of different size and sex while feeding on bloodworms were conducted, in order to identify potential discrepancies among individuals and sizes. Five coordinate points were digitized from recordings of prey capture and twelve time- and velocity-determined variables were evaluated. All specimens follow a typical inertial suction feeding process, where rapid hyoid depression expands the buccal cavity. Generated negative pressure within the buccal cavity causes influx of water along with the prey item into the mouth. Results demonstrate higher distance values and angles for gape in individuals with smaller size. In addition, hyoid depression is maximized in smaller individuals. While <italic>Triturus dobrogicus</italic> resembles a typical inertial suction feeder in its functional morphology, intraspecific differences could be found regarding the correlation of different feeding patterns and body size.</p></abstract>

Many studies have yet been conducted on suction feeding in aquatic salamander species. Within the Salamandridae, the crested newt Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903), occurring from the Austrian Danube floodplains to the Danube Delta, was not subject of investigations so far. The present study examines the kinematics of aquatic suction feeding in this species by means of high-speed videography. Recordings of five individuals of different size and sex while feeding on bloodworms were conducted, in order to identify potential discrepancies among individuals and sizes. Five coordinate points were digitized from recordings of prey capture and twelve time- and velocity-determined variables were evaluated. All specimens follow a typical inertial suction feeding process, where rapid hyoid depression expands the buccal cavity. Generated negative pressure within the buccal cavity causes influx of water along with the prey item into the mouth. Results demonstrate higher distance values and angles for gape in individuals with smaller size. In addition, hyoid depression is maximized in smaller individuals. While Triturus dobrogicus resembles a typical inertial suction feeder in its functional morphology, intraspecific differences could be found regarding the correlation of different feeding patterns and body size.

Size does matter – Intraspecific variation of feeding mechanics in the crested newt <italic>Triturus dobrogicus</italic> (Kiritzescu, 1903)

Acta Scientifica Naturalis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Size does matter – Intraspecific variation of feeding mechanics in the crested newt  (Kiritzescu, 1903)

Many studies have yet been conducted on suction feeding in aquatic salamander species. Within the Salamandridae, the crested newt Triturus dobrogicus...

Size does matter – Intraspecific variation of feeding mechanics in the crested newt Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903)

Published Online: Mar 07, 2018

Page range: 75 - 85

Received: Nov 30, 2017

Accepted: Jan 11, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/asn-2018-0011

Keywords
Amphibians, Salamandridae, Triturus, suction feeding, intraspecific variation

© 2018 Florian Kucera et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Size does matter – Intraspecific variation of feeding mechanics in the crested newt Triturus dobrogicus (Kiritzescu, 1903)

Published Online: Mar 07, 2018

Page range: 75 - 85

Received: Nov 30, 2017

Accepted: Jan 11, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/asn-2018-0011

KeywordsAmphibians, Salamandridae, Triturus, suction feeding, intraspecific variation

© 2018 Florian Kucera et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Amphibians, Salamandridae, Triturus, suction feeding, intraspecific variation