ADELOMELON BRASILIANA AND ANTHOLOBA ACHATES: A PHORETIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN A VOLUTID GASTROPOD AND A SEA ANEMONE IN ARGENTINE WATERS

摘要

We describe a phoretic relationship between Adelomelon brasiliana (Lamarck), a common gastropod (Volutidae) along the coast of the province of Buenos Aires, and the sea anemone Antholoba achates (Drayton). Ninety-five percent of the sampled gastropods participate in this association, with the remaining 5% juvenile specimens. In order to discover a preferential position of anemone attachment and to assess the frequency of this association, the gastropod shell was divided into three approximately equal sectors and the anemones in each sector counted. The maximum number of anemones attached on the dorso-abaxial side near the aperture. Despite the high frequency of anemones on the shell of A. brasiliana, results suggest that only the anemone benefits from this association.