MASKING BEHAVIOUR IN A COMMENSAL SHRIMP, METAPONTONIA FUNGIACOLA BRUCE, 1967 THAT USES THE SOFT TISSUES OF THE HOST CORAL (DECAPODA, PALAEMONIDAE, PONTONIINAE)

Abstract

AbstractMasking behaviour was observed in a commensal pontoniine shrimp, Metapontonia fungiacola, living on the discs of fungiid corals (Scleractinia, Fungiidae). When the coral was disturbed, the shrimp moved to and situated itself between the coral septa, and then performed masking behaviour. The shrimp thus hid itself under host tissues by "hooking" soft tissues of the coral with the dactyli of three pairs of pereiopods (i.e., the third to the fifth) in such a way, that these approached each other on the shrimp's back, like drawing curtains. Le comportement de camouflage a ete observe chez la crevette commensale Pontoniinae, Metapontonia fungiacola, vivant sur les disques de coraux Fungiidae (Scleractinia). Quand ces derniers sont inquietes, la crevette vient se placer entre les cloisons coralliaires et developpe alors son comportement de camouflage. La crevette se cache sous les tissus mous de l'hote en s'y accrochant a l'aide des dactyles de trois paires de pereiopodes (troisieme a cinquieme paire) de telle facon que lorsqu'ils se rapprochent, les tissus se referment comme si on tirait des rideaux.