Hidden weapon of Morena

2007/09/07 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Biologia
• Zoologia

Morena is a great hunter who spies his prey hidden between corals or rocks, with a horrible tooth. It has just been discovered that it hides a hunting weapon: a second jaw in the pharynx (figure a), with sharp teeth.

This unique discovery has been made with high-speed cameras and x-ray photographs at the University of California, and they have discovered that the second gag also hangs the dam (figure b) with the arrival of the brunette (Muraena retifera). As explained, this gag of the pharynx is mainly for the capture of the prey, not only to help mature and swallow, as occurs in other animal species.

Photo: Rita Mehta and Candi Stafford.