PLoS One February 2015 PMID 24475170

Feeding kinematics, suction, and hydraulic jetting performance of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

Christopher D Marshall, Sven Wieskotten, Wolf Hanke, Frederike D Hanke, Alyssa Marsh, Brian Kot, Guido Dehnhardt

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Mentions

8
Peak: 7 in Jan 2023
across 3 sources since Jan 2023

Extended reach

381,802
potential audience

Total likes

8,220

Video views

265,278

Mentions per month

Jan 2023

All 7 dated mentions so far are from Jan 2023.

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter6 posts
  • YouTube1 videos
  • News1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone is casual, with posts like 'Sucking in the water is OP' demonstrating enthusiasm, while others quote the research to explain how seals use suction versus biting, indicating a moderate understanding. The choice of informal language and casual references reflects a surface-level engagement with the scientific content, which aligns with the mild scores across agreement, interest, engagement, and impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the article’s focus on feeding mechanisms, with some explicitly praising suction feeding as effective, suggesting general support for the research findings.

InterestModerate interest

The posts show moderate interest, with some enthusiasm for the underwater feeding techniques, but the language is somewhat informal and casual, indicating a basic engagement.

EngagementNeutral engagement

The engagement level appears to be superficial; most comments are brief and focus on the general concept rather than deep analysis of the research methodology or implications.

ImpactNeutral impact

The discussions seem to reflect curiosity rather than transformative impact, as few posts elaborate on the broader significance of the findings beyond basic explanations.

Abstract in brief

  • Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) primarily use suction feeding during controlled trials, with suction accounting for 84% of feeding events, and biting making up 16%, showing a preference for suction.
  • Suction feeding involves a smaller gape and specific lip pursing, whereas biting features a larger gape and exposing teeth, with clear differences in feeding kinematics regardless of whether in water or on land.
  • Seals can also perform hydraulic jetting by exerting pressure up to 539 kPa, and combined use of suction and hydraulic jetting demonstrates their behavioral flexibility in consuming fish during underwater feeding.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
SciShow
@SciShow · X

Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of water? https://t.co/4Nb6B7WxhU https://t.co/rAZcRX7y20

Jan 9, 2023 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 114,635 followers View post →
Kitty
@kittybravofan · X

Why Marine Mammals Suck https://t.co/7rnQjf4xEB via @YouTube

Jan 10, 2023 · 720 followers View post →
No Such Thing as a Seagull
@nosuchseagull · X

RT @SciShow: Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of wat…

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 shares · 546 followers View post →
William Wallace
@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of wat…

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 shares · 318 followers View post →
Capt Lionheart
@LionheartCapt · X

@yeportus_333 Sucking in the water is OP. https://t.co/9ICND0R8PU

Jan 10, 2023 · 199 followers View post →
Johannes Lüke
@JohannesSLueke · X

New video by SciShow: Why Marine Mammals Suck https://t.co/0cAlStQYOu

Jan 9, 2023 · 84 followers View post →

All mentions

Kitty
@kittybravofan · X

Why Marine Mammals Suck https://t.co/7rnQjf4xEB via @YouTube

Jan 10, 2023 · 720 followers View post →
Capt Lionheart
@LionheartCapt · X

@yeportus_333 Sucking in the water is OP. https://t.co/9ICND0R8PU

Jan 10, 2023 · 199 followers View post →
No Such Thing as a Seagull
@nosuchseagull · X

RT @SciShow: Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of wat…

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 shares · 546 followers View post →
Johannes Lüke
@JohannesSLueke · X

New video by SciShow: Why Marine Mammals Suck https://t.co/0cAlStQYOu

Jan 9, 2023 · 84 followers View post →
William Wallace
@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of wat…

Jan 9, 2023 · 2 shares · 318 followers View post →
SciShow
@SciShow · X

Having a bite to eat is the norm for most mammals on land, but how do underwater mammals eat without getting a mouthful of water? https://t.co/4Nb6B7WxhU https://t.co/rAZcRX7y20

Jan 9, 2023 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 114,635 followers View post →
Hocking Et Al A Behavioural Framework For The Evolution of ...
News

Ecol. beaked whales: morphological and observational ONE 9, e86710. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086710) 77, 936 –947. ( ...

Dec 15, 2025 View →