The mechanics of prey prehension in chameleons

A. Herrel, J. J. Meyers, P. Aerts, K. C. Nishikawa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Iguanian lizards generally use their tongue to capture prey. Because lingual prehension is based on surface phenomena (wet adhesion, interlocking), the maximal prey size that can be captured is small. However, published records show that prey items eaten by chameleons include small vertebrates such as lizards and birds, indicating that these lizards are using a different prey prehension mechanism. Using high-speed video recordings, cineradiography, electromyography, nerve transection and stimulation experiments, we investigated the function of the tongue during prey capture. The results of these experiments indicate that chameleons have modified the primitive iguanian system by including a suction component in their prehension mechanism. Suction is generated by the activity of two modified intrinsic tongue muscles that pull the tongue pad inwards. Moreover, we demonstrate that the mechanism described here is a prerequisite for successful feeding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3255-3263
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Experimental Biology
Volume203
Issue number21
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Brookesia spp.
  • Chameleo spp.
  • Functional morphology
  • Hyolingual apparatus
  • Lizard
  • Nerve transection
  • Prey capture
  • Rhampholeon spectrum
  • Suction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Physiology
  • Aquatic Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Insect Science

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