Death roll of the alligator: mechanics of twist feeding in water

@article{Fish2007DeathRO,
  title={Death roll of the alligator: mechanics of twist feeding in water},
  author={Frank E. Fish and Sandra A Bostic and Anthony J. Nicastro and John T. Beneski},
  journal={Journal of Experimental Biology},
  year={2007},
  volume={210},
  pages={2811 - 2818}
}
SUMMARY Crocodilians, including the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), perform a spinning maneuver to subdue and dismember prey. The spinning maneuver, which is referred to as the `death roll', involves rapid rotation about the longitudinal axis of the body. High-speed videos were taken of juvenile alligators (mean length=0.29 m) performing death rolls in water after biting onto a pliable target. Spinning was initiated after the fore- and hindlimbs were appressed against the body and the… 
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