Ultra-fast suction traps leave no chance for prey animals

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 18:30 in Biology & Nature

Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) constitute the largest genus of carnivorous plants. They catch and digest prey animals, mainly small crustaceans, with millimetre-sized suction traps. These so-called bladders have fascinated scientists since Darwin's early works on carnivorous plants. Researchers have now investigated the biophysical details of this prey capture mechanism for the first time.

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