Books

• Luczkovich, J., P. Motta, S. Norton, and K. Liem (ed.). 1995. Ecological Morphology of Fishes. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. 240 pp.

• Motta, Philip J. (ed.) 1989. The Biology of The Butterflyfishes: Success on The Coral Reef, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. 256 pp.

Reports

• Motta, P.J. 2002. Final report: Towed system marine life attach reduction SBIR N99-104.
  Texas Research International, Austin, Texas.
  Key Words: fish, shark, attack, bite force, submarine, towed arrays

Papers - click on titles to download pdf versions of published papers

• Lang, A., Habegger, M. and P. Motta. In press. Shark Skin Drag Reduction. Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology. B. Bhushan (editor). Berlin: Springer.

• Lang, A., Motta, P., Habegger, M. and R. Hueter. In review. Shark skin boundary layer control. Proc. IMA Workshop “Natural Locomotion in Fluids and on Surfaces: Swimming, Flying, and Sliding,” June 1-5, 2010, IMA Volumes in Mathematics and its Applications.

• Habegger, M.L., Dean, M.., Huber, D.R. and P.J. Motta. In revision. Feeding biomechanics in bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) during ontogeny. Zoology.

• Motta, P.J., and D.R. Huber. 2012. Prey capture behavior and feeding mechanics of elasmobranchs. In: Carrier JC, Musick JA, Heithaus MR (eds) Biology of sharks and their relatives, Second Edition. Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton.

• Gardiner, J.M. and P.J. Motta. 2012. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) switch feeding modalities in response to sensory deprivation. Zoology. 115:78-83.

• Lambert, E.P. and P.J. Motta. 2011. Modulation in the strike kinematics of the ant-lion larvae, Myrmeleon crudelis. Journal of Experimental Zoology 331A:1-8.

• Pfeiffenberger, J.A. and P.J. Motta. 2011. The effects of intraspecific competition on the prey capture behavior and kinematics of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus. Environmental Biology of Fishes. DOI 10.1007/s10641-011-9885-0.

• Lang, A., Motta, P., Hueter, R. and M. Habegger. 2011. Shark Skin separation control mechanisms. Marine Technology Society Journal 45: 208-215.
  *The Marine Technology Society is a not-for-profit, international, professional association. Founded in 1963, the Society believes that the advancement of marine technology and the productive, sustainable use of the oceans depend upon the active exchange of ideas between government, industry and academia. See www.mtsociety.org. This article is for personal use only, and is not to be distributed in any format.

• Brunnschweiler, J.M., Nielsen, F., and P. Motta. 2011. In-situ observation of stomach eversion in a line-caught Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). Fisheries Research 109:212-216.

• Whitenack, L.B., Simkins, D.C., Jr., and P.J. Motta. 2011. Biology meets engineering: The structural mechanics of fossil and extant shark teeth. Journal of Morphology 272:169-179.

• Motta, P.J., Maslanka, M., Hueter, R.E., Davis, R.L., De la Parra, R., Mulvany, S.L., Habegger, M.L., Strother, J.A., Tyminski, J., Mara, K.R., and J. Gardiner. 2010. Feeding anatomy, filtering rate, and diet of whale sharks Rhincodon typus off the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Zoology 113: 199-212.

• Habegger, M.L., Motta, P.J., Huber, D.R., and Deban, S. 2010. Feeding biomechanics in the Great Barracuda during ontogeny. Journal of Zoology.

• Whitenack, L.B. and P.J. Motta. 2010. Performance of shark teeth during puncture and draw: implications for the mechanics of cutting. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 271-286.

• Lim, D.D., Motta, P.J., Mara, K., and A.P. Martin. 2010. Phylogeny of hammerhead sharks (Family Sphyrnidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55: 572-579.

• LB Whitenack, DC Simikins Jr., PJ Motta, M Hirai, and A Kumar. 2010. Young's modulus and hardness fo shark tooth biomaterials. Archives of Oral Biology 55: 203-209.

• Mara, K.R., Motta, P.J., and D.R. Huber. 2009. Bite performance in the durophagous bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo. J. Exp. Zool. 311A:2: 95-105.

• Lang, A.W., Hidalgo,P., Motta, P. and M Westcott. 2008. Bristled shark skin: a microgeometry for boundary layer control? Bioinspiration and Biomimetics 3 (2008) 046005.

• Lowry, D., Castro, A., Ford, T., Mara, K., Whitenack, L., Burgess, G. and P. Motta. 2009. Determining shark size from forensic analysis of the bite damage. Marine Biology 156: 2483-2492.

• Ortega, L.A., Heupel, M.R., Van Beynen, P. and P.J. Motta. 2009. Movement patterns and water quality preferences of juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in a Florida estuary. Environmental Biology of Fishes 84: 361-373.

• Motta, P.J., Hueter, R.E., Tricas, T.C., Summers, A.P., Huber, D.R., Lowry, D., Mara, K.R., Matott, M.P. Whitenack, L.B., and A.P. Wintzer. 2008. Functional morphology of the feeding apparatus, feeding constraint and suction performance in the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. J. Morphology 269:1041-1055.

• Whitney, N.M. and P.J. Motta. 2008. Cleaner host posting behavior of whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) in a swarm of hyperiid amphipods. Coral Reefs preprint:1.   

• Castro A.L.F., Stewart B.S., Wilson S.G., Hueter R.H., Meekan M.G., Motta P.J., Bowen B.W., and S.A. Karl. 2007. Population genetic structure of earth's largest fish, the whale shark Rhincodon typus. Molecular Ecology 16: 5183-5192.          

• Lowry, D. and P.J. Motta. 2008. Relative importance of growth and behavior to elasmobranch suction feeding performance over early ontogeny. Journal Royal Society Interface 5:641-652.

• Wilga, C.D., Motta, P.J., and C.P. Sanford. 2007. Evolution and ecology of feeding in elasmobranchs. Integrative and Comparative Biology 46: 55-69.

• Collins, A.B., Heupel, M. and P.J. Motta. 2007. Residence and movement patterns of Atlantic cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus within a southwest Florida estuary. Journal of Fish Biology 71: 1159-1178.

• Lowry, D., Motta, P.J., and R.E. Hueter. 2007. The ontogeny of feeding behavior and cranial morphology in the leopard shark Triakis semifasciata (Girard 1854): a longitudinal perspective. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 341: 153-167.

• Lowry, D. and P.J. Motta. 2007. The ontogeny of feeding behavior and cranial morphology in the whitespotted bambooshark Chiloscyllium plagiosum (Bennett 1830): a longitudinal perspective. Marine Biology 151: 2013-2023.

• Collins, A.B., Heupel, M.R., Hueter, R.E., and P.J. Motta (2007). Hard prey specialists or opportunistics generalists? An examination of the diet of the Atlantic cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus. Marine and Freshwater Research. 58: 135-144. Please contact A. Collins for reprints.

• Sasko, D.E., Dean, M.N., Motta, P.J., and R.E. Hueter. 2006. Prey capture behavior and kinematics of the Atlantic cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus. Zoology. 109: 171-181.

• Huber, D.R., Weggelaar, C.L., and Motta, P.J. 2006. Scaling of bite force in the blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus. Zoology. 109: 109-119.

• Fulcher, B.A. and P.J. Motta. 2006. Suction disc performance and ecological implications for echeneid fishes. Cand. J. Zool. 84: 42-50.

• Wintzer, A.P. and P.J. Motta. 2005. Diet-induced phenotypic plasticity in the skull morphology of hatchery-reared Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus. Ecol. Fresh. Fish. 14: 311-318.

• Matott, M.P., Motta, P.J. and R.E. Hueter, 2005. Modulation in feeding mechanics and motor pattern of the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum. Env. Biol. Fish. 74: 163-174.

• Wintzer, A.P. and P.J. Motta. 2005. Predator experience and survival: A kinematic comparison of the ontogeny of prey capture in hatchery and wild Florida largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides floridanus. J. Fish. Biol. 67: 409-427.
• Corrected Figure 2 for Wintzer and Motta 2005

• Huber, D.R., Eason, T.G., Hueter, R.E., and Motta, P.J. 2005. Analysis of bite force and mechanical design of the feeding mechanism of the durophagous shark Heterodontus francisci. J. Exp. Bio. 208: 3553-3571.

• Lowry, D., Wintzer, A., Matott, M., Whitenack, L.B., Huber, D., Dean, M., and P.J. Motta. 2005. Aerial and aquatic feeding in the silver arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. Env. Biol. Fish. 73: 453-462.

• Bergmann, G.T. and P.J. Motta. 2005. Diet and morphology through ontogeny of the nonidigenous Mayan cichlid Cichlasoma (Nandopsis) urophthalmus (Gunther 1862) in southern Florida. Env. Biol. Fish. 72: 205-211.

• Porter, H.T. and P.J. Motta. 2004. A comparison of strike and prey capture kinematics of three species of piscivorous fishes: Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), redfin needlefish (Strongylura notata), and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). Marine Biol. 145: 989-1000.

• Dean, M.N. and P.J. Motta. 2004. Anatomy and functional morphology of the feeding apparatus of the lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea). J. Morphol. 262: 462-483.

• Dean, M.N. and P.J. Motta. 2004. Feeding behavior and kinematics of the lesser electric ray, Narcine brasiliensis. Zoology. 107: 171-189.

• Wintzer, A.P. and P.J. Motta 2004. The effects of temperature on prey capture kinematics of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus: implications for feeding studies. Cand. J. Zool. 82: 794-799.

• Bergmann, G.T. and Motta, P.J. 2004. Infection by anisakid nematodes Contracaecum spp. in the Mayan Cichlid Fish 'Cichlasoma (Nandopsis)' uropthalmus (Gunther 1862). J. Parasitology. 90: 405-407.

• Motta, P.J. 2004. Prey capture behavior and feeding mechanics of elasmobranchs. Pp. 165-202. In: Carrier, J., Musick, J., and M. Heithaus (eds.), Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton.

• Huber, D.R. and Motta, P.J. (2004). A comparative analysis of methods for determining bite force in the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. Journal of Experimental Zoology 301A: 26-37.

•  Robinson, M.P. and P.J. Motta.  2002.  Patterns of growth and the effects of scale on the feeding kinematics of the  nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). J. Zool. Lond. 256: 449-462.

• Motta, P.J., R.E. Hueter, T.C. Tricas and A.P. Summers.  2002.  Kinematic analysis of suction feeding in the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum (Orectolobiformes, Ginglymostomatidae).  Copeia.  2002(1): 24-38.

• Sass, G.G. and P.J. Motta.  2002.  The effects of satiation on strike mode and prey capture kinematics in the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.  Eviron. Biol. Fish. 65: 441-454.

• Wilga, C.D., R.E. Hueter, P.C. Wainwright and P.J. Motta.  2001.  Evolution of upper jaw protrusion mechanisms in elasmobranchs.  Amer. Zool. 41: 1248-1257.

• Edmonds, M.A., P.J. Motta and R.E. Hueter.  2001.  Food capture kinematics of the suction feeding horn shark Heterodontus francisci. Environ. Biol. Fish. 62: 415-427.

• Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga.  2001.  Advances in the study of feeding behaviors, mechanisms, and mechanics of sharks.  Eviron. Biol. Fish. 60: 131-156.

• Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta.  2000.  Durophagy in sharks: feeding mechanics of the hammerhead Sphyrna tiburo.  J. Exp. Biol. 203: 2781-2796.

• Muñoz, Roldan C. and Philip J. Motta. 2000. Interspecific aggression between two parrotfishes (Sparisoma, Scaridae) in the Florida Keys. Copeia. 2000 (3): 674-683.

• Overholtzer, K.L. and P.J. Motta.  2000.  Effects of mixed-species foraging groups on the feeding and aggression of juvenile parrotfishes.  Environ. Biol. Fish. 58: 345-354.

• Wilga, C.D., P.C. Wainwright and Motta, P.J.  2000.  Evolution of jaw depression mechanics in aquatic vertebrates: insights from Chondrichthyes.  Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 71: 165-185.

• Motta, P.J. and C.D. Wilga. 1999.  Anatomy of the feeding apparatus of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum.  J. Morph. 241:  33-60.

• Overholtzer, K.L. and P.J. Motta. 1999. Comparative resource use by juvenile parrotfishes in the Florida Keys. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 177:177-187.

• Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta.  1998.  Conservation and variation in the feeding mechanism of the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. J. Exp. Biol. Vol. 201: 1345-1358.

• Clifton, K.F. and P.J. Motta. 1998. Feeding morphology, diet, and ecomorphological relationships among five carribean Labrids (Labridae, Teleostei). Copeia 1998: 953-966.

• Wilga, C.D. and P.J. Motta.  1998.  Feeding mechanism of the Atlantic guitarfish Rhinobatos lentiginosus: modulation and kinematic motor activity.  J. Exp. Biol. 201: 3167-3184.

• Motta, P.J., T.C. Tricas, R.E. Hueter and A.P. Summers.  1997.  Feeding mechanism and functional morphology of the jaws of the lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris (Chrondricthyes, Carcharhinidae). J. Exp. Biol. 200: 2765-2780.

• Hernandez, L.P., and Philip J. Motta. 1997. Trophic consequenses of  differential performance: ontogeny of oral jaw-crushing performance in the sheepshead, Archarsagus probatocefalus (Teleostei, Sparidae). J. Zool., Lond. 243: 737-756.

• Motta, Philip J., Stephen F. Norton and Joseph J.Luczkovich. 1995.  Perspectives on the ecomorphology of bony fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 44: 11-20.

• Motta, Philip J. and C.D. Wilga. 1995. Anatomy of the feeding apparatus of the lemon shark. Negaprion brevirostris.  J. Morph. 266: 309-329.

• Motta, Phillip J., Kari B. Clifton, Patricia Hernandez, Bradley T. Eggold, 1995. Ecomorphology correlates in ten species of subtropical seagrass fishes: diet and micohabitat utilization. Env. Biol. Fish.  44: 37-60.

• Motta, Philip J., Kari B. Clifton, Patricia Hernandez, Bradley T. Eggold, Stephen D. Giordano and Rebecca Wilcox. 1995. Feeding relationshps among nine species of seagrass fishes of Tampa Bay, Florida. Bull Mar. Sci. 56: 185-20.

Norton, Stephen F., Joseph J Luczkovich and Motta, Philip J., 1995.  The role of  ecomorphological studies in the comparative biology of fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 44: 287-304.

• Eggold, Bradley T. and Philip J. Motta. 1992. Ontogenetic dietary shift and morphological correlates in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus. L., Env. Biol. Fish. 34: 139-158.

• Motta, Philip J. and Kurt M. Kotrschal. 1992. Correlative, experimental and comparative evolutionary approaches in ecomorphology. Neth. J. Zool. 42: 400-415.

• Motta, P.J., Hueter, R.E., and T.C. Tricas. 1991. An electromyographic analysis of the biting mechanism of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris: Functional and evolutionary implications. J. Morph. 210: 55-69.

• Sparks, N.H.C., P.J. Motta, R.P. Shellis, V.J. Wade, and S. Mann.1990. An analytical electron microscopy study of iron-rich teeth from the butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) J. of Exp. Biol. 151:371-385.

• Motta, Phillip J., 1989. Strengths and weaknesses in butterflyfish research: concluding remarks. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 25:243-245.

• Hourigan, T.F., Stanton, F.S.., Motta P.J. and B. Carlson. 1989. Feeding ecology of three species of Caribbean angelfishes (Family Pomacanthidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 24: 105-116.

• Motta, Philip J., 1989. Opening remarks: the biology of the butterflyfishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 7-8.

• Motta, Philip J. 1989. Dentition patterns among Pacific and Western Atlantic butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae): relationship to feeding ecology and evolutionary histry. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 159-170.

• Motta, Phillip J. 1988. The functional morphology of the feeding apparatus of ten species of Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes: Chaetodontidae): an ecomorphological approach. Env. Biol. Fish. 22:39-67.

• Motta, Philip J. 1987. A quantitative analysis of ferric iron in butterflyfish teeth (Chaetodontidae, Perciformes) and the relationship to feeding ecology. Can. J. Zool. 65: 106-112.

• Burgoon, D.A., Kilgore, D.L. and P.J. Motta. 1987. Brain temperature in the calliope hummingbird (Stellula calliope): a species lacking a rete mirabile ophthalmicum. J. Comp. Physiol. B 157: 583-588.

• Motta, Philip J. 1985. Functional morphology of the head of Hawaiian and Mid-Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae) Enviromental Biology of Fishes. 13 (4):  253-276.

• Motta, Philip J. 1985. The mechanics and functions of jaw protrusion in teleost fishes: a reveiw. Copeia 1985 (1): 1-18.

• Motta, Philip J. 1984. Response by potential prey to coral reef predators. Anim. Behav. 31:1257-1259.

• Motta, Philip J., 1984. Tooth attachment, replacement and growth in the butterfly fish, Chaetodon miliaris, (Chaetodontidae, Perciformes). Can. J. Zool. 62: 183-189.

• Motta, Philip J., 1982. Functional morphology of the head of the inertial suction feeding butterflyfish, Chaetodon miliaris (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae). Journal of Morphology 174: 283-312.

• Reif, W-E., McGill, D., and P. Motta. 1978. Tooth replacement rates of the sharks Triakis semifasciata and Ginglymostoma cirratum. Zool. Jb. Anat. 99: 151-156.

• Motta, Philip J. 1977. Anatomy and functional morphology of dermal collagen fibers. Copeia 1977: 454-465.