Overview

• Researchers at UC Davis have confirmed that certain reef fish, including the Moorish Idol and surgeonfish, can move their jaws laterally, a rare capability among vertebrates.
• This lateral jaw motion allows these fish to efficiently graze on benthic algae, a critical food source in coral reef ecosystems.
• High-speed video analysis, CT scans, and dissections revealed the rapid and precise jaw mechanics, which are undetectable to the naked eye.
• The study highlights convergent evolution, as lateral jaw mobility independently emerged in both Moorish Idol and surgeonfish due to selective pressures in reef environments.
• Ongoing research is screening additional benthic-feeding fish species to assess the prevalence and ecological significance of similar jaw adaptations.