BURROWING BEHAVIOR OF DENTALIUM

¹ Oceanographic Laboratory, University of Kerala, Ernakulam 6, South India

Observations on living material of Dentalium (Dentalium) conspicuum Melvill show that after the animals have embedded themselves in the substratum, burrowing activities of the foot are directed towards loosening an area of the substratum around the foot. This causes sinking and displacement of material in the column of sediment overlying the foot, resulting in cracks and minute passages through which connection between the animal and the surface is established. The action of the foot and the pedal lobes in loosening and sifting sediment materials may enable the captacula to seek among them for food, such as Foraminifera and detritus. The connection established with the surface may also help in drawing in more detritus matter from the surface. The main digging activities of the animal appear to be directed towards seeking for food in the sediment. A note is also added on the mode of egg-laying observed in a single specimen.