What specific teeth structure allows wolffish to exert substantial pressure to shatter hard-shelled prey?
Answer
Massive, molar-like teeth toward the back of the jaws
The most critical adaptation for the wolffish diet is found in the rear portion of their jaws, where they possess massive, molar-like teeth. These structures function much like built-in nutcrackers or stone mills, engineered to withstand and generate substantial crushing force necessary to rupture the hard exoskeletons of crabs or the sturdy shells of bivalves like clams and mussels. While they do have canine-like teeth positioned towards the front, these serve a secondary role, primarily aiding in gripping and tearing initially. The true evidence of their durophagous nature lies in the sheer mass and structure of these posterior crushing teeth.
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