articles on mouth structure evolution in loricariidae

[Jon]

hi friends;
I was looking for examples of the aforementioned to draft a quick sample review article for my students in an evolution class I'm heading. my usual haunts (web of science, pm, etc) seem to have very sparse information on the subject, but i'm hoping some of the specialists here have some more detailed info.

thanks

[matthewfaulkner]

Is Nathan Lujan's dissertation of any use?

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ilit=lujan

[MatsP]

I'm pretty sure Nathan's dissertation is a good place to start. I'm not sure it talks that much about the evolution of the mouth, but it certainly DESCRIBES the mouth and it's function.

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Mats

[racoll]

I have a couple of papers. PM sent.

If anyone else want them, let me know. Not really bedtime reading though!

[MatsP]

Not really bedtime reading though!

Nathan explained to me that his dissertation was very good for sending you to sleep. So, perhaps in some sense it IS bedtime reading ;)

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Mats

[Suckermouth]

Of course, Nathan's dissertation has been mentioned. You'll want to look at the Schaefer and Lauder 1986 and 1996 papers on biomechanical decoupling. You may want to look at the Geerinckx series of papers on development and function, although they really don't discuss evolution but you may be able to get some nice figures.

[Jon]

sorry for the late response;

all of the resources posted were more than helpful. thanks all.

[apistomaster]

I am a merely amateur arm chair evolutionary biologist and I can not help by adding any reference literature to this thread.
But to me, the functions the Loricariidae have found for their mouths is amazing.
As a sucker it allows them to occupy very fast water. It functions as an important structure in the reproduction of many species.
I have observed that some use their suction cup mouths to eat Malayan trumpet snails from out of their shells. I have seen this among Sturisoma although they have not overly specialized to do this I wish they would. I have seen this mostly in tanks where I was growing out over 50 juveniles and at 4 inches and up they took quite a toll on the snails.