NFC: Re: Re: Re: trumpet snails & snail predation in general

["Matt Berg" <mdb6850 at tamug_tamu.edu>]

Yes, the mouthparts of the Cuatro Cienegas cichlids are modified for
piscivory or snailivory. Also, the overall morphology is different as well.
Fish eaters are longer and more streamlined for quick prey capture. Snail
eaters are stockier. There is also some differentiation in the overall size
of the heads of the different forms.

Matt

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Sachs <deano at aquaculturestore_com>
To: <nfc at actwin_com>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 12:11 PM
Subject: NFC: Re: Re: trumpet snails & snail predation in general


> Are their mouth parts different you suppose?
>
> >Mexico (the well-known Cuatro Cienegas), where several fish morphs have
> >evolved for specialized feeding on either snails or fishes
>
> Paul
>
> ***************************
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> 1185 Thompson Bailey Road
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> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Matt Berg" <mdb6850 at tamug_tamu.edu>
> To: <nfc at actwin_com>
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 11:09 AM
> Subject: NFC: Re: trumpet snails & snail predation in general
>
>
> > I've had native Texas cichlids H. cyanoguttatum from the southern part
of
> > the state chowing on Physa snails, mostly by inhaling them, working them
> > over, and spitting the shells out. There is a fascinating behavior
> > relationship between the closely related H. minckleyi cichlid group from
> > Mexico (the well-known Cuatro Cienegas), where several fish morphs have
> > evolved for specialized feeding on either snails or fishes.
> > Matt
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Thomas DeWitt <tdewitt at tamu_edu>
> > To: <nfc at actwin_com>
> > Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 9:06 AM
> > Subject: NFC: trumpet snails & snail predation in general
> >
> >
> > > Luke,
> > > Interesting observations on the orangethroats!  Did you notice how the
> > darters eat snails.  I'm curious as to whether they swallow the shells
> > whole, crushed them or used suction feeding to suck the snail from the
> > shells.  Are some darters better than others at snailivory.
> > >
> > > While we're at it, I'm interested to know what other natives have been
> > observed eating snails in aquaria, and what means they use.
> > >
> > > This has important implications for the evolution of prey defenses,
both
> > behavioral or morphological.
> > >
> > > Thom
> > >
> > >
> > > >>> mcclurgl at washburn_edu 04/12/02 01:05AM >>>
> > >
> > > I had three tanks that were over run with them.  I put in a half dozen
> > > orangethroat darters into each and six weeks later, no malaysian
snails.
> > >
> > > Luke
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, 11 Apr 2002, Mark wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have found the Malaysian burrowing trumpet snails to be next to
> > > > impossible to eradicate from your gravel once they are established.
> The
> > > > trap door allows them to wait out most chemical treatments, and the
> hard
> > > > shells and burrowing make them innacessible to predatory fishes.  So
> > don't
> > > > get them unless you want to keep them!
> > > >
> > > > Mark
> > > > Columbus Ohio USA            <))><
> > > > mbinkley at columbus_rr.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>