What is the primary function of the sieve-like structures derived from modified gill rakers in *Rhincodon typus*?
Answer
To filter feed
The whale shark employs a specialized method for consuming its food, relying on its massive mouth structure not for biting or tearing, but for efficient filtering. While *Rhincodon typus* does possess hundreds of rows of tiny, vestigial teeth, these teeth are not utilized in the feeding process whatsoever. Instead, the actual mechanism involves highly specialized, sieve-like structures that have developed from modified gill rakers. These structures capture small planktonic organisms as water passes through the mouth, allowing the whale shark to sustain its colossal size through this passive, filter-feeding strategy.
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