Unknown
Inter Research
In:
Marine Ecology Progress Series, 88 . pp. 293-296.
Publication Date:
2019-06-26
Description:
An association of Argonauta argo Linnaeus 1758
with Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld 1884 was observed in situ and collected north of Bohol Island in the Philippine archipelago. The argonaut held the exumbrella of the live lellyfish with its lateral and ventral arms. About half of the medusa bell surface was damaged and large pieces of mesogloea were lacking. The affected exumbrella area was charactenzed by the presence of masses of rod-like bacteria which did not occur on the undamaged ciliated surface. The center of
the bell showed 2 holes interpretated as bite marks from the cephalopod. Five channels led from the holes to the medusa's gastric cavity. This connection possibly enabled the argonaut
to feed on the tissue and to access particles caught by the secondary mouth papillae of the oral arms of P. punctata.
Furthermore, the association could serve A. argo as protection or camouflage against predators because of the stinging capability of the scyphomedusa.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
Format:
text
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