Prey capture kinematics in batoids using different prey types: investigating the role of the cephalic lobes

Cephalic lobes are novel structures found in some myliobatid stingrays. While undulatory batoids utilize the pectoral fins for prey capture and locomotion, lobed species partition locomotion to the pectoral fins, utilizing the lobes exclusively for prey capture. We investigated the use of the anterior pectoral fins and cephalic lobes in prey capture in five batoid species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the: (1) prey capture kinematics and use of the cephalic lobes in lobed and lobeless batoids; (2) role of the cephalic lobes in modulating capture behavior based on prey type. It was hypothesized that lobed species would display unique capture behaviors resulting in faster and more successful capture of prey, and display greater modulation in capture behavior. Findings showed that lobed species used only the head region for capture, were faster at pouncing and tenting, but slower at mouth opening. The cephalic lobes were more movable than the anterior pectoral fins of lobeless species. Modulation occurred in all species. Elusive prey increased tent duration for the lobeless species, increased mouth opening duration in the lobed Aetobatus narinari, and were farther away from the mouth than non-elusive prey during biting for all species. All species had few prey escapes. Overall, species with cephalic lobes captured prey faster but did not display increased modulatory ability or feeding success. The cephalic lobes help localize prey capture to the head region, speeding up the prey capture event and maintaining an efficient capture rate despite having less flexible pectoral fins.