Suction Feeding Is an Important Adaptation That Is Seen in Many

Suction feeding is an important adaptation that is seen in many aquatic organisms with jaws. The figure below shows mandible (the lower jaw bone) length versus width in several species of whale. The authors were testing the hypothesis that certain species of whales that lack jaws that extend from the skull capture prey with their jaws instead of using suction feeding. Filled symbols represent suction feeders. These data support the hypothesis of the authors.