INTRAORAL FOOD MANIPULATION OF CARP AND OTHER CYPRINIDS - ADAPTATIONSAND LIMITATIONS

The heterogeneity of the cyprinid fishes (about 2000 species) and thei r feeding requires a general model of aquatic feeding. In this model t he timing of mouth and gill slit opening and the relative contribution of head expansion and swimming are determining factors. The following elements have been distinguished in the feeding process of cyprinid f ishes: search/choice, intake (particulate intake and gulping), size - and taste selection, intra-oral transport (including repositioning), m astication and deglutition. The recognition of these processes is base d on the combined use of X-ray, cine film, video and emg techniques. S tructural specialisations, including the intra-oral density of sensory elements and their central connections with associated feed back loop s, enable a wide variety of combinations and regulation of (stereotype d) motor patterns.