Currently employed in Australia.

National & International cooperations:

Department of Ultrastructure at the Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna

Prof. Dr. GA Zweers (NL); Leiden University, Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences

Prof. Dr. V. Bels (B); Haute Ecole Provinciale - Université du Travail; Enseignement Superieur Agricole - Type long

Prof. Dr. E. Mayrhofer (A); University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna; Clinic of Radiology

R. Gemel (A); Museum of Natural History, Vienna

Austrian Herpetological Society (ÖGH)

Wochesländer, R. & Weisgram, J. (1997)
The Feeding Mechanism of Testudo hermanni (Chelonia: Cryptodira).
Journal of Morphology 232: 341 (Abstract).
(Poster at the 5. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology; Bristol, 12. 7. - 17. 7. 1997)

Wochesländer, R. & Weisgram, J. (1998)
Feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni (Chelonia, Cryptodira).
Proceedings of the International Workshop on "The Morphology of Cranial and Cervical Systems in Vertebrates" in Tübingen 1998; p. 58 (Abstract).

Wochesländer, R., Hilgers, H. & Weisgram, J. (1999)
Feeding Mechanism of Testudo hermanni boettgeri (Chelonia; Cryptodira)
Netherlands Journal of Zoology 49(1): 1-13. [Abstract]

Wochesländer, R., Gumpenberger, M. & Weisgram, J. (2000)
Intraoral food transport in Testudo hermanni (Chelonia, Cryptodira) - A radiographic video analysis
Netherlands Journal of Zoology 50(4): 445-454. [Abstract]

Wochesländer, R. (2001) 
Feeding mechanism of Cuora amboinensis (Chelonia, Cryptodira).
Journal of Morphology 248(3), p. 302 [Abstract].
6. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Jena, 21.7. – 26.7. 2001.

Wochesländer, R., Lemel, P., Nemeschkal, H., Snelderwaard, P., & Weisgram, J. (subm.).
Kinematics of terrestrial and aquatic feeding in Cuora amboinensis (Chelonia, Cryptodira). 

Lemell, P., Lemell, C., Snelderwaard, P., Gumpenberger, M., Wochesländer, R. & Weisgram, J. (subm.).
Feeding in Chelus fimbriatus (Pleurodira; Chelidae) Part II: Kinematic analysis. 

Wochesländer, R. & Weisgram, J. (1997)
The Feeding Mechanism of Testudo hermanni (Chelonia: Cryptodira).
Journal of Morphology 232: 341 (Abstract).
(Poster at the 5. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology; Bristol, 12. 7. - 17. 7. 1997) 

Few investigations about the feeding mechanism of terrestrial turtles have been done. Especially the functional and morphological aspects of this topic are barely worked on. We examined the feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni by filming in lateral view (25 frames/sec). Sequences were transfered on transparent paper and the measurements of the movements of all decisive parts like food particle, neck, jaws and tongue were done. This procedure was also made to examine drinking of the turtle, because there are no clear statements available. The results show that the tongue is relatively large, with papillose topography and has well-formed extrensic and intrinsic muscles. The hyoid apparatus is more lightly built and more mobile than in aquatic forms. Drinking ensues by swallowing water, which gets in when submerging the mouth under the waterline. Terrestrial turtles like Testudo hermanni have a well developed tongue with a more complex surface than aquatic forms. The tongue is the main agent of food uptake and intraoral food manipulation. This reflects the influence by the biophysical constraints of the feeding medium. Different properties in feeding medium require different morphological design of the feeding apparatus.

Wochesländer, R. & Weisgram, J. (1998)
Feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni (Chelonia, Cryptodira).
Proceedings of the International Workshop on "The Morphology of Cranial and Cervical Systems in Vertebrates" in Tübingen 1998; p. 58. 

The transition from water to land in vertebrate evolution required many changes in the feeding mechanism, morphologie of the skull, and musculature. In water, the gravitation is small compared with frictional forces. The opposite is true in air. Here for example, prey suction by rapid expansion of the buccopharyngeal chamber is not possible because of physical properties.
The feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni boettgeri was analysed by filming and anatomical examination of the involved musculature and skeleton elements.
A feeding cycle is divided into food uptake, followed by several transport and manipulation cycles, and finally swallowing of the food. There, the organisation of the hyolingual complex plays an important role. The tongue of terrestrial turtles tends to be larger, more muscular, more mobile, and to have a more complex surface than in aquatic forms. The tongue is the main agent of food uptake and intraoral manipulation. The hyoid apparatus supports the floor of the mouth and is adapted to the highly movable tongue. It is small, flexibel, and less ossified. Skull shape and arrangement of jaw muscles demonstrate the adaptation to terrestrial life also. The jaw muscles are less developed, their insertion areas are smaller and do not extend so much caudal then in aquatic species.
The organisation of the feeding mechanism in tetrapods depends on the biophysical constraints by the surrounding media. The feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni boettgeri shows the typical situation of a turtle which is fully adjusted to terrestrial life.

Wochesländer, R., Hilgers, H. & Weisgram, J. (1999)
Feeding Mechanism of Testudo hermanni boettgeri (Chelonia; Cryptodira)
Netherlands Journal of Zoology 49(1): 1-13. 

Feeding of Testudo hermanni boettgeri was studied by film analysis and anatomical examination of the musculature and skeleton elements involved. Film sequences were analysed to describe the movements of like food item, neck, jaws, and tongue.
The feeding cycle is divided into food uptake (ingestion), followed by several transport and manipulation cycles (intraoral transport), and finally swallowing of the food (deglutition). The results show that in Testudo hermanni boettgeri the tongue is the main tool for food uptake and intraoral manipulation. The hyoid apparatus supports the floor of the mouth and is adapted to the highly movable tongue. Compared to aquatic species the hyoid is smaller, more flexibel, and less ossified. Skull shape and arrangement of jaw muscles also demonstrate adaptation to terrestrial life. The jaw muscles are less developed, their insertion areas are smaller and do not extend as much caudally as in aquatic species.
The organisation of the feeding mechanism in tetrapods depends on biophysical constraints imposed by the surrounding medium. In this organisation the hyolingual complex plays an important role. The tongue of terrestrial turtles tends to be larger, more muscular, more mobile, and tends to have a more complex surface than in aquatic forms. The feeding mechanism of Testudo hermanni boettgeri shows the typical situation of a turtle which is fully adjusted to terrestrial life.

Wochesländer, R., Gumpenberger, M. & Weisgram, J. (2000)
Intraoral food transport in Testudo hermanni (Chelonia, Cryptodira) - A radiographic video analysis
Netherlands Journal of Zoology 50(4): 445-454.

The kinematics of intraoral food transport of Testudo hermanni were investigated by radiographic video analysis. Small lead markers and contrastmedia marked food pellets were used to describe the movements of the hyolingual apparatus, the jaws, and the food passage during feeding events. The feeding cycle is divided into food uptake, several intraoral transport cycles, and finally swallowing of the food. The results show features of a terrestrial feeder highly adapted to herbivorous diet: usage of tongue during ingestion, tongue-based intraoral transport combined with food manipulation prior to swallowing. The tongue of T. hermanni is equipped with long papillae and numerous lingual glands. Roughness of the tongue surface and sticky saliva produce interlocking forces acting on the food which facilitate food uptake, transport, and manipulation. Cineradiographic analysis enables complete documentation of the food passage during feeding events and, combined with conventional video recordings, allows more valid statements about the kinematics of feeding mechanisms. 

Wochesländer, R. (2001) 
Feeding mechanism of Cuora amboinensis (Chelonia, Cryptodira).
Journal of Morphology 248(3), p. 302 (Abstract). 
6. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Jena, 21.7. – 26.7. 2001.

The Malayan box turtle, Cuora amboinensis, lives in semiaquatic habitats. Observations showed that this species is able to feed both on land and in water. This study records for the first time the mechanism by which C. amboinensis feeds on several food items. Examination of kinematics of feeding sequences was done by high-speed video (500 fr/s), x-ray video (50 fr/s), and x-ray film (75 fr/s). Displacements of head, carapace, and prey in the earth bound frame are determined. Cineradiographic analysis documents the food passage during feeding events. Dissections were made to characterize morphological features like jaw and hyobranchial muscles, and the hyolingual apparatus. The feeding event is divided into food uptake, intraoral transport and manipulation, and swallowing. All these phases are organized in characteristic pattern of cyclic movements. The results show that C. amboinensis possesses an allround feeding mechanism without sophisticated features as found in specialists. This enables it to handle the different biophysical demands when feeding both on land and in water.