Feeding behavior of Asterophysus

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Sep 2005, 18:52

Zuanon, J & I Sazima, 2005. The ogre catfish: prey scooping by the auchenipterid Asterophysus batrachus. Aqua. Journal of Ichthyology 10: 15â??22.

Abstract

The catfish Asterophysus batrachus (Auchenipteridae) has a huge mouth gape and is able to ingest very large prey. However, how it catches and positions such prey in its stomach remains unrecorded. We studies the predatory behaviour of A. batrachus under aquarium conditions and found a novel feeding mode for piscivorous Neotropical catfishes. Asterophysus batrachus uses its cavernous gape in a remarkable way, scooping up large unaware prey headfirst, then taking advantage of the fleeing response to further the prey's advance into its stomach. Positioning of the prey results from additional escape movements into the very distensible belly of the catfish. The prey ends up folded in the stomach with its head and tail pointing towards the head of the predator. A fasting catfish occasionally takes in water, bulging its belly considerably ("belly ballooning"). After a while, the fish expels the water entirely, along with a little mucus and a few small fragments of food. The wrinkled belly quickly regains its former shape. Because of the huge mouth, ability to swallow large prey and overall appearance, we name A. batrachus the ogre catfish.

Some pretty amazing pictures inside.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 06 Sep 2005, 21:04

I wanna see the pictures!

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 17 Sep 2005, 17:04

Ivan Sazima is a planet contributor, maybe he'll allow some pictures to be published.

Jools

Post by **Silurus** » 22 Sep 2005, 21:23

racoll wrote:I wanna see the pictures!

I can get them to you if you update your email address...

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 22 Sep 2005, 21:47

have done, and my location too!

Thanks in advance Silurus

Post by **Silurus** » 22 Sep 2005, 21:56

I don't see an email address in your profile, and clicking the "Email" box in your posts gives the old address.

Must be another bug.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:10

Can you do the same for me via PM? Thanks, Marc

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:51

Silurus wrote:Must be another bug.

Can't see anything wrong and checked changing my address, worked fine.

Jools

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:31

I don't know what happened the first time, but it's definately updated now.