I made some quick calculations of estimated gape size of NP and length of LMB the 39" NP could swallow. Maximum length of a largemouth that 39" NP could swallow is 17" assuming an average LMB body depth of 3.9"(100mm). Granted, LMB body depth would be less - more for a skinny or plump LMB. The two predator-prey papers that I used noted that NP often eat significantly smaller food items than the maximum size they could swallow. Thus, I assume that the 'average' size of LMB shaped prey that this NP was eating was in the 8"-13" size category. Interestingly the one paper noted that the feeding period of NP is normally for one short period every day or two unless the food items are proportionally too small. One NP stomach was found to be full of dragon fly nymphs and it no doubt took a fair amount of time to locate and consume 30-50 big 'bugs'. SPECIAL THANKS to Dr. Willis (South Dakota State Univ) for providing me the two research papers about feeding behavior of northern pike.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/30/10 09:28 PM.
