Food Specialization in Conus in Hawaii and California

Abstract

The 6—11 vermivorous species of the marine gastropod genus Conus co—occurring on Hawaiian coral reefs and intertidal benches have specialized diets, as measured by prey species redundancy; each feed primarily on a different species, or group of species. In contrast, C. californicus has no co—occurring as potential competitors for food and its diet, comprising members of six classes in four animal phyla, is the most diverse known for any species of Conus. Prey species redundancy of the one common molluscivorous species in Hawaii is intermediate between values for the Hawaiian vermivores and C. californicus.