A horse is a horse, of course of course, but seahorses beat out the competition when it comes to catching shrimp. The iconic fish's curliness is an evolutionary adaptation that has increased its predatory ability, according to a paper published today in Nature Communications. Using mathematical modeling, researchers created simulations of seahorse biomechanics, which showed that the long head and horsey neck allow the seahorse to reach for prey faster and farther than its ancestor, the descriptively named pipefish, could do. Videos of seahorses and similar species show that its S-curve shape allows the seahorse to quickly swivel its head to strike at prey from where it sits in wait. So in a photo finish, the seahorse's long neck snags it the cup.
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