The silence of prey: Hummingbirds do not respond to potential ambush predators on flowers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Vitor Alcantara Viana ◽  
Murilo Massufaro Giffu ◽  
Leandro Hachuy‐Filho
Keyword(s):  
Ambush Predators

Functional implications of supercontracting muscle in the chameleon tongue retractors

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (21) ◽  
pp. 3621-3627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Herrel ◽  
Jay J. Meyers ◽  
Peter Aerts ◽  
Kiisa C. Nishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Retractor Muscle ◽  
Muscle Physiology ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ambush Predators ◽  
Full Body

SUMMARYChameleons capture prey items using a ballistic tongue projection mechanism that is unique among lizards. During prey capture, the tongue can be projected up to two full body lengths and may extend up to 600 % of its resting length. Being ambush predators, chameleons eat infrequently and take relatively large prey. The extreme tongue elongation (sixfold) and the need to be able to retract fairly heavy prey at any given distance from the mouth are likely to place constraints on the tongue retractor muscles. The data examined here show that in vivo retractor force production is almost constant for a wide range of projection distances. An examination of muscle physiology and of the ultrastructure of the tongue retractor muscle shows that this is the result (i) of active hyoid retraction, (ii) of large muscle filament overlap at maximal tongue extension and (iii) of the supercontractile properties of the tongue retractor muscles. We suggest that the chameleon tongue retractor muscles may have evolved supercontractile properties to enable a substantial force to be produced over a wide range of tongue projection distances. This enables chameleons successfully to retract even large prey from a variety of distances in their complex three-dimensional habitat.

scholarly journals Free-standing spider silk webs of the thomisid Saccodomus formivorus are made of composites comprising micro- and submicron fibers

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Haynl ◽  
Jitraporn Vongsvivut ◽  
Kai R. H. Mayer ◽  
Hendrik Bargel ◽  
Vanessa J. Neubauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spider Silk ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Crab Spiders ◽  
Ambush Predators ◽  
The Web ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Abstract Our understanding of the extraordinary mechanical and physico-chemical properties of spider silk is largely confined to the fibers produced by orb-weaving spiders, despite the diversity of foraging webs that occur across numerous spider families. Crab spiders (Thomisidae) are described as ambush predators that do not build webs, but nevertheless use silk for draglines, egg cases and assembling leaf-nests. A little-known exception is the Australian thomisid Saccodomus formivorus, which constructs a basket-like silk web of extraordinary dimensional stability and structural integrity that facilitates the capture of its ant prey. We examined the physical and chemical properties of this unusual web and revealed that the web threads comprise microfibers that are embedded within a biopolymeric matrix containing additionally longitudinally-oriented submicron fibers. We showed that the micro- and submicron fibers differ in their chemical composition and that the web threads show a remarkable lateral resilience compared with that of the major ampullate silk of a well-investigated orb weaver. Our novel analyses of these unusual web and silk characteristics highlight how investigations of non-model species can broaden our understanding of silks and the evolution of foraging webs.

A prickly subject: innovative handling of a difficult prey

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Linda Behrendorff
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Island Ecosystems ◽  
Subtidal Area ◽  
Shallow Subtidal ◽  
Handling Technique ◽  
Prey Handling ◽  
Ambush Predators ◽  
Tachyglossus Aculeatus

Canids are generally considered to be ambush predators, but in island ecosystems adaptability and flexibility are essential for survival. Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) attack and kill their prey in a variety of ways including utilising waterbodies. Here I document the drowning of an adult short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) before consumption by a dingo using the coastal surf beach intertidal to shallow subtidal area on the eastern coast of Fraser Island (K’gari), highlighting an innovative prey-handling technique.

scholarly journals Proteotranscriptomic Insights into the Venom Composition of the Wolf Spider Lycosa tarantula

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 501
Author(s):  
Dominique Koua ◽  
Rosanna Mary ◽  
Anicet Ebou ◽  
Celia Barrachina ◽  
Khadija El Koulali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Wolf Spider ◽  
Secretory Proteins ◽  
Crude Venom ◽  
Wolf Spiders ◽  
Original Source ◽  
Venom Composition ◽  
Venom Glands ◽  
Ambush Predators ◽  
Venom Proteins

Spider venoms represent an original source of novel compounds with therapeutic and agrochemical potential. Whereas most of the research efforts have focused on large mygalomorph spiders, araneomorph spiders are equally promising but require more sensitive and sophisticated approaches given their limited size and reduced venom yield. Belonging to the latter group, the genus Lycosa (“wolf spiders”) contains many species widely distributed throughout the world. These spiders are ambush predators that do not build webs but instead rely strongly on their venom for prey capture. Lycosa tarantula is one of the largest species of wolf spider, but its venom composition is unknown. Using a combination of RNA sequencing of the venom glands and venom proteomics, we provide the first overview of the peptides and proteins produced by this iconic Mediterranean spider. Beside the typical small disulfide rich neurotoxins, several families of proteins were also identified, including cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP) and Hyaluronidases. Proteomic analysis of the electrically stimulated venom validated 30 of these transcriptomic sequences, including nine putative neurotoxins and eight venom proteins. Interestingly, LC-MS venom profiles of manual versus electric stimulation, as well as female versus male, showed some marked differences in mass distribution. Finally, we also present some preliminary data on the biological activity of L. tarantula crude venom.

scholarly journals Feeding of Plankton in a Turbulent Environment: A Comparison of Analytical and Observational Results Covering Also Strong Turbulence

Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Hans L. Pécseli ◽  
Jan K. Trulsen ◽  
Jan Erik Stiansen ◽  
Svein Sundby
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Energy Dissipation Rate ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Gut Content ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Turbulent Environments ◽  
Analytical Results ◽  
Probability Densities ◽  
Ambush Predators

The present studies address feeding of plankton in turbulent environments, discussed by a comparison of analytical results and field data. Various models for predator-prey encounters and capture probabilities are reviewed. Generalized forms for encounter rates and capture probabilities in turbulent environments are proposed. The analysis emphasizes ambush predators, exemplified by cod larvae Gadus morhua L. in the start-feeding phase (stage 7 larvae) collected in shallow waters near Lofoten, Norway. During this campaign, data were obtained at four sites with strongly turbulent conditions induced by tidal currents and long-wave swells, and one site where the turbulence had a lower level in comparison. The guts of the selected cod larvae were examined in order to determine the number of nauplii ingested. Analytically obtained probability densities for the gut content were compared with observations and the results used for estimating the rate of capture of the nauplii. This capture rate was then compared with analytical results using also data for the surroundings, such as measured prey densities and turbulence conditions, as quantified by the specific energy dissipation rate. Different from earlier studies, the presented data include conditions where the turbulence exceeds the level for optimal larval encounter-capture rates.

scholarly journals Possible top-down control of solitary bee populations by ambush predators

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Rodríguez-Gironés
Keyword(s):  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Ambush Predators

scholarly journals Antagonistic interactions between predator and prey: mobbing of jaguars (Panthera onca) by white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari)

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian E. Rampim ◽  
Leonardo R. Sartorello ◽  
Carlos E. Fragoso ◽  
Mario Haberfeld ◽  
Allison L. Devlin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Behavioral Interactions ◽  
Tayassu Pecari ◽  
Behavioral Interaction ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Brazilian Pantanal ◽  
Ambush Predators

Abstract Ambush predators rely on stealth to successfully secure prey. Mobbing is a rarely observed anti-predation strategy used by group-living prey species whereby several individuals distract or harass a predator until it either ends the pursuit or leaves the area. Herein, we present three unique cases of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) mobbing jaguars (Panthera onca) in the wild. White-lipped peccaries and jaguars co-occur within the study area, a large-scale ecotourism and working cattle ranch in the Brazilian Pantanal. Two cases of mobbing were recorded by video camera trap during routine surveys, and a third case was directly observed by one of the authors during telemetry triangulation of a GPS-collared individual jaguar. Our observations provide direct empirical evidence of antagonistic behavioral interactions between jaguars and white-lipped peccaries that have previously been limited to anecdotes within academic literature. We discuss the implications of this behavioral interaction for the proximate and ultimate fitness of both predator and prey.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document