Abstract
Introduction: The locomotion behavior of an organism involves the integration of aspects like body symmetry, sensory and locomotor systems. Furthermore, various ecological factors seem to be related to locomotion characteristics, such as foraging strategy, migration trends, response to predators and competitors, and environmental stress. Objective: To analyze locomotion and the influence of body symmetry in the crawling and righting movements of the sea star Asterina stellifera. Methods: We carried out laboratory experiments in aquariums in the presence/absence of water current and on a horizontal and vertical surface. Results: The speed is similar to speed in other species of similar size. Both the speed and linearity of displacement were independent of individual body size. A water current leads to faster crawling and straight paths, but there is no rheotaxis: streams do not affect locomotion. Speed and linearity of displacement were independent of individual body size. The displacement pattern described here may be an adaptation of organisms that present dense populations in communities with high prey abundance, as is the case of A. stellifera. Conclusions: Like other asteroids, this species did not show an Anterior/Posterior plane of symmetry during locomotion, or righting movement: it does not tend to bilaterality.
Highlights
The locomotion behavior of an organism involves the integration of aspects like body symmetry, sensory and locomotor systems
Since these behaviors involve a complex integration of body symmetry, sensory system, and other body characteristics, it is not striking that contradicting crawling actions could be described between and within echinoderms classes
Crawling speed values recorded for A. stellifera are similar to those of other sea star species with comparable body sizes (40-70 mm) living in temperate waters (Montgomery & Palmer, 2012)
Summary
The locomotion behavior of an organism involves the integration of aspects like body symmetry, sensory and locomotor systems. Objective: To analyze locomotion and the influence of body symmetry in the crawling and righting movements of the sea star Asterina stellifera. Results: The speed is similar to speed in other species of similar size. Both the speed and linearity of displacement were independent of individual body size. A water current leads to faster crawling and straight paths, but there is no rheotaxis: streams do not affect locomotion. Speed and linearity of displacement were independent of individual body size. Conclusions: Like other asteroids, this species did not show an Anterior/Posterior plane of symmetry during locomotion, or righting movement: it does not tend to bilaterality
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