The feeding apparatus directly influences a species' trophic ecology. In fishes, our understanding of feeding modes is largely derived from studies of rigid structures (i.e. bones, teeth, gill rakers). A recently described lip innovation, however, highlighted the role of soft anatomy in enabling specialized feeding modes. In this study, we explore whether similar diversification may also occur in the soft anatomy of the buccal cavity. Using four key anatomical traits to classify 19 species (14 genera) of wrasses, we evaluated the relationship between anatomical specialization of the buccal cavity and diet. Our data revealed a previously undocumented anatomical adaptation in the mouths of fairy wrasses (Cirrhilabrus): the mucosa throughout the buccal cavity (i.e. anterior to the pharynx) is packed with goblet cells, enabling it to secrete large quantities of mucus in this region; a new trait that, until now, had not been documented in wrasses. This disparity reflects diet differences, with mucus secretion found only in planktivorous Cirrhilabrus that feed predominantly on amorphous organic material (potentially gelatinous organisms). This suggests a cryptic mucus-based resource partitioning in planktivorous wrasses.

中文翻译：

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浮游珊瑚鱼的营养分离：黏液的新作用？

饲养设备直接影响物种的营养生态。在鱼类中，我们对取食方式的了解主要源于对刚性结构（即骨头，牙齿，g耙）的研究。然而，最近描述的嘴唇创新技术突显了软解剖学在实现专门喂养模式方面的作用。在这项研究中，我们探索在颊腔的软解剖结构中是否也可能发生类似的多样化。使用四个关键的解剖学特征对19种（14属）濑鱼进行分类，我们评估了颊腔的解剖学专业与饮食之间的关系。我们的数据显示，仙子濑鱼（Cirrhilabrus）的嘴中以前没有记录的解剖学适应性：整个颊腔（即咽前部）的粘膜充满了杯状细胞，使它能够在该区域分泌大量粘液；到现在为止，还没有在濑鱼中记录过一种新特性。这种差异反映了饮食的差异，仅在主要以无定形有机物质（潜在为胶状生物）为食的浮游性茅草中发现了粘液分泌。这表明浮游性濑鱼中基于秘密粘液的资源分区。