Observations from the field also report that a few species of morays, Gymnothorax pictus ( Chave and Randall, 1971), Echidna nebulosa ( Fishelson, 1977) and Sidera grisea ( Fishelson, 1977 R.S.M., unpublished observations) move into or even above the intertidal zone to feed on crabs.
#Wolf eel adaptations skin#
Morays also tend to be relatively robust to hypoxic conditions ( Ackerman and Bellwood, 2000) and a histological study on the skin of the Mediterranean moray, Muraena helena, revealed phospholipids and unicellular mucous glands in the outermost layer of the epidermis which may delay desiccation ( Zaccone, 1979). Pharyngeal transport in muraenids does not rely on water movement, suggesting that morays should be able to capture and swallow prey on land, although transport is not the only challenge fishes feeding on land must overcome (see review in Heiss et al., 2018). Morays apprehend their prey by biting and use pharyngeal transport to move prey from their buccal cavity into their esophagus ( Mehta and Wainwright, 2007a, b). Muraenid fishes (Anguilliformes) collectively known as morays are good models for examining the functional morphology of feeding in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The need for water is not surprising as the vast majority of fishes rely on hydraulic transport to move prey from the buccal cavity into the esophagus ( Lauder, 1983). Extant fishes that have been documented moving onto land to take advantage of novel food resources tend to rely on the aquatic environment to manipulate and swallow prey ( Cucherousset et al., 2012) or are able to hold water in their buccal cavity while on land to use it for feeding ( Michel et al., 2015b). Feeding and seeking novel resources are especially interesting hypotheses for why vertebrates may have invaded the terrestrial environment around 400 MYA ( Long and Gordon, 2004 Ashley-Ross et al., 2013). Fewer studies have explored other behaviors while on land such as socialization ( Taylor et al., 2008 Ord and Hsieh, 2011) and feeding ( Seghers, 1978 Van Wassenbergh et al., 2006 Van Wassenbergh, 2013 Michel et al., 2014, 2015a, b). Studies focused on amphibious species have mainly examined the kinematics of fishes moving on land ( Hsieh, 2010 Pace and Gibb, 2011 Kawano and Blob, 2013 Ward et al., 2015 Mehta et al., 2020), physiological adaptations to the terrestrial environment ( LeBlanc et al., 2010 Turko et al., 2019) and the genetics therein ( You et al., 2018). Below is a listing of some of these strange and unusual residents of the coral reef.Many extant fish taxa are able to make terrestrial excursions ( Johnels, 1957 Chave and Randall, 1971 Pace and Gibb, 2011, 2014 Kawano and Blob, 2013 Standen et al., 2016 Bressman et al., 2019) and either breathe air or withstand hypoxia for extended periods of time ( Sayer, 2005). Some species carry enough venom in their bodies to kill several men. Many undersea residents have developed strong venoms as a means of protection. The art of venom has also reached new heights on the reef. Even experienced divers can be fooled by some of these ingenious disguises. There are fishes that look like rocks and fishes that look like plants. Camouflage has evolved into an art form here on the coral reef. There are even seahorses that look like seaweed.
And believe it or not, it is actually the male seahorse that gives birth to the young. There are the seahorses, which are one of the most unusual fish designs on the reef. There are pufferfish that actually expand like balloons to avoid being eaten by predators. There are the eels, long skinny fish that look more like snakes. There are fishes here that do not even look like fish. Fish species here have developed many different shapes and abilities. The coral reef is a showcase for these bizarre creatures. Perhaps nowhere else on Earth has so many strange and unusual adaptations taken place. The results of nature's experiments can be found throughout the world's seas. For millions of years, the seas have been a virtual laboratory for the process of evolution.
0 kommentar(er)
