THE RESPONSE TO MOLLUSCAN SHELLS OF THE SWIMMING SEA ANEMONES STOMPHIA COCCINEA AND ACTINOSTOLA NEW SPECIES

Abstract

Behavior patterns in the sea anemones Stomphia coccinea and Actinostala new species are described by which these animals settled preferentially on shells of Modiolus modiolus (commensal of S. coccinea) after they have been made to swim in response to the appropriate stimuli (the starfishes Dermasterias or Hippasteria, the nudibranch Aeolidia papillosa, etc.). Tentacular and oral contact without adhesion, followed by great distension of the pedal disc and some flexion of the column towards the shell, were the main components of these behavior patterns. Anemones which had been allowed to settle on other surfaces not more than 6 h previously migrated to shells which were brought into contact with the tentacles. Shells which were boiled in alkali to remove organic matter lost their capacity to elicit the response. This behavior pattern is compared with that of Calliactis parasitica, a commensal of hermit crabs which shows a preference for settling on shells of large gastropods.