What feeding mechanism is implied for securing slippery squid without prominent grasping teeth?
Answer
Reliance on suction feeding or powerful jaw clamping.
The anatomy of the false killer whale lacks the prominent grasping teeth found in some other toothed whales, creating a puzzle regarding how they successfully secure large, slippery prey like squid. To overcome this, it is inferred that they must heavily utilize powerful oral mechanics. This likely involves employing strong suction capabilities inherent in their jaws or exerting significant clamping force to firmly grip the prey item immediately prior to swallowing it whole. This capability demonstrates the considerable functional versatility of their oral anatomy necessary for capturing fast-moving cephalopods.
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