Animal Diversity 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073524255
ISBN 13: 978-0-07352-425-2

Chapter 10 - Review Questions - Page 224: 12

Answer

Cephalopods are predaceous, which means they feed primarily on small fishes, molluscs, crustaceans, and worms. Their arms are designed to capture and handle food, due to their complex musculature, which allows them to make delicate, controlled movements. Cephalopods are highly mobile and they seize their prey before bringing it to their mouth. Once there, the cephalopods release a venom from their salivary glands that immobilizes the captured prey. After consumption, the prey is digested in the stomach and cecum. Most cephalopods swim by forcefully expelling water from their mantel cavity through a ventral funnel. In other words, they swim using power that is similar to jet propulsion. The funnel is mobile and can therefore be pointed in a forward or backward direction, which can be used to control direction. The force of the water expulsion controls speed.

Work Step by Step

Cephalopods are predaceous, which means they feed primarily on small fishes, molluscs, crustaceans, and worms. Their arms are designed to capture and handle food, due to their complex musculature, which allows them to make delicate, controlled movements. Cephalopods are highly mobile and they seize their prey before bringing it to their mouth. Once there, the cephalopods release a venom from their salivary glands that immobilizes the captured prey. After consumption, the prey is digested in the stomach and cecum. Most cephalopods swim by forcefully expelling water from their mantel cavity through a ventral funnel. In other words, they swim using power that is similar to jet propulsion. The funnel is mobile and can therefore be pointed in a forward or backward direction, which can be used to control direction. The force of the water expulsion controls speed.
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