Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, PO Box 3, Oban, Argyll PA34 4AD, U.K.;Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101, U.S.A.
Abstract:
An infra-red video recording system was used to observe and compare the feeding activity of juvenile sole and plaice. Experiments in light or dark and chemical ablation of the neuromasts with streptomycin sulphate allowed all or a limited set of senses to be used by the fishes. Both species were able to feed on dead prey when only chemical stimuli were available. Plaice showed a greater dependence on vision for feeding but sole relied principally on chemoreception and mechanoreception. When any one sense was removed plaice became less active whereas sole became more active.