The Flight Response In Struthiolaria Papulosa Gigas Sowerby

Summary The flight response shown by Struthiolaria papulosa gigas Sowerby on contact with forcipulate asteroids is described. The response consists of repeated somersaults and is similar to that described for Nassarius spp. Tests were carried out to determine the strength and duration of the response after contact with six different species of asteroid. Positive responses occurred only with species of the order Forcipulata and, of the forcipulates tested, Astrostole scabra (Hutton) proved to be the most effective stimulator. It is suggested that this fact may be correlated with the size of the test species. Ecological observations do not support the view that specific predator recognition is necessarily involved in the response.