The Cambridge natural history . the body of the crustacean. 1 Jourii. of Conch, vi. 1891, p. 399. ^ ^^^jj, j^f^ig. K E. (6) vii. p. 276. CASES OF COMMENSALISM 8r Dr. Norman suggests that the extreme flatness of the sliell of theLefton is of great advantage in enabling it not to get in the wayof the Gehia as he scuttles up and down his burrow. Anotherspecies of Leftoii is found on the coast of Florida in a preciselysimilar locality/ while a third species, occurring on the Oregonand California coasts, actually attaches itself to the inner surfaceof the abdomen of a Gchia? A very singular case of
The Cambridge natural history . the body of the crustacean. 1 Jourii. of Conch, vi. 1891, p. 399. ^ ^^^jj, j^f^ig. K E. (6) vii. p. 276. CASES OF COMMENSALISM 8r Dr. Norman suggests that the extreme flatness of the sliell of theLefton is of great advantage in enabling it not to get in the wayof the Gehia as he scuttles up and down his burrow. Anotherspecies of Leftoii is found on the coast of Florida in a preciselysimilar locality/ while a third species, occurring on the Oregonand California coasts, actually attaches itself to the inner surfaceof the abdomen of a Gchia? A very singular case of commensal ism has l_)een recently dis-covered with regard to a genus of Australian bivalve shells,Ephippodonta. This genus is never found except in the burrowof a species of prawn {Axius plectorlnjnclius Str.). For somereason at present unexplained, the burrow of this particularprawn appears to be exceedingly popular as a habitat for certainbivalves, for, besides two species of Ephippodonta, a Kdlia and ,-^^^5K^-«^^r^4 if SS^. Flf!. 32. — Epkippodonta Mac-(louijalli Tate, S. , burrow of jirawn, the xindicating the position of themollusc ; sp, sponge. B,Ventral view of Ephippo-donta ; by, byssus ; /, foot ;m, mantle ; mm, fused mantleborders. C, View of interiorof shells ; /i, hinge ; mm,adductor muscles. (A x i ;,B and C x 2.) A three Mylitta are found there, and there alone. Sometimes theprawn, when the rock is hard, builds a tunnel of mud upon it,at other times it excavates the soft calciferous sandstone. Thisburrow is lined with a tenacious brown mud, composed of excre-mentitious matter ; and, in addition to the mud lining, there isalways more or less present an orange-coloured sponge whicli Ihave never found elsewhere. Upon the mud or sponge, andadhering very closely, are found the Ephippodonta. They (|uicklyform a pit-like depression liy means of their foot, and appearalmost covered by the mud. During the winter months (March- VOL. Ill SHmi)son, quoted by Jc
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1895
