Which category of animals heavily skews the primary diet of the Atlantic Wolffish?

Answer

Animals protected by heavy exoskeletons or shells

The diet of the Atlantic Wolffish is highly specialized, reflecting the evolutionary investment in its powerful jaws and crushing dentition. The menu is overwhelmingly dominated by prey species that possess robust outer protection. This primary diet consists significantly of sea urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, and scallops. The fish employs its unique dental structure to literally crush these hard-shelled invertebrates into pieces manageable for ingestion. This feeding strategy establishes them as critical regulators of benthic invertebrate communities, as their predation pressure can significantly influence populations like sea urchins, which in turn impacts the associated kelp forest health.

Which category of animals heavily skews the primary diet of the Atlantic Wolffish?

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