Systems That Control the Burrowing Behaviour of a Sea Anemone

摘要: The sand-dwelling sea anemone, Phyllactis concinnata , buries itself by attaching sand grains to the lower column as this is bent under anemone a travelling peristaltic wave. Some of then released expands laterally. Once buried, increases in length over period several hours until pedal disc finally attaches buried shell. Burrowing controlled bursts pulses generated through-conducting nerve net. These produce shortening and peristalsis. Regular intervals between suggest that pacemakers are driving Pulse patterns modified after has surrounded when touches hard substratum. A second conducting system (the SS2) can, specific experimental conditions, respond mechanical chemical stimuli inhibit net discharge, but its function during burrowing not known, even though it produces distinctive pattern pulses. After been an may contract spontaneously rapidly. Two other types behaviour, pharynx eversion antiperistaltic behaviour (crawling), usually precede each associated with own characteristic