Abstract
Abstract Paguroids are usually detritivorous organisms and the occurrence of predation on mollusks is very unusual. This contribution reports the occurrence of a predatory behavior of the paguroid Dardanus venosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1848) on the snail Aurantilaria aurantiaca (Lamarck, 1816). Single specimen of paguroid was found attacking the snail in a sea grass meadow dominated by Halodule wrightii Ascherson on the coast of Ceara, northeastern Brazil. The paguroid and gastropod specimens were brought to the laboratory and placed in an aquarium and the behavior was recorded by photos. Paguroid behavior was characterized by sequencial movements of chelipeds in the attack to the snail when the snail was hold by paguroid ambulatory legs. External lip of shell aperture, operculum and foot of the gastropod were severely damaged.
Highlights
Paguroids comprise dense populations in intertidal environments
Most of paguroid species are defined as generalist in diet and opportunistic in their feeding habits, with an omnivoredetritivore feeding style (Orton, 1927; Roberts, 1968; Caine, 1975, 1976; Hazlett, 1981; Benvenuto et al, 2003)
Milne Edwards, 1848) is a colorful paguroid species that typically occurs in the intertidal zone up to a depth of 100 m, and is commonly found among rocks, shells, coralline algae (Rieger, 1997; Melo, 1999) or even in sea grass meadows constituted by species Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König and Syringodium filiforme Kuetz (Bauer, 1985)
Summary
Paguroids comprise dense populations in intertidal environments. They use empty gastropod shells to protect themselves against predators, desiccation, and other environmental stresses (Reese, 1969; Bertness, 1981; Hazlett, 1981). KeY woRds Hermit crab, behavior, gastropod, predation, feeding, Brazil. Paguroids have not been recognized as important predators in the intertidal environments, and they often obtain empty shells from the environment without killing gastropods.
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