Their hunting strategies are variable; some forms are ambush predators, sitting and waiting for their prey; whilst others actively pursue their prey; their metabolic rate is closely linked to that of their prey species.[1] Even the size of the gymnosomes is correlated to the size of their prey,[6] which they recognize by means of touch and grab using their sometimes-suckered buccal cones.[6] A combination of hooks and a toothed radula are employed to scour the flesh from the thecosomes' shells.[6]