The functional role of the caudal fin in the feeding ecology of the common thresher shark Alopias vulpinus.
This study tests the hypothesis that the common thresher shark Alopias vulpinus uses its elongate caudal fin to both produce thrust and immobilize prey during feeding. Underwater video recorded in southern California from 2007 to 2009 revealed 34 feeding events, all of which were initiated with the upper lobe of the caudal fin.
Aalbers
S A
SA
Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, 315 N. Clementine St, Oceanside, CA 92054, USA.
Bernal
D
D
Sepulveda
C A
CA
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012754:Sharks / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording