Ecology and Behavior of Maxillipius commensalis, a Gorgonophile Amphipod from Madang, Papua New Guinea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maxillipiidae)

Authors

James Darwin Thomas, Smithsonian InstitutionFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1996

Publication Title

Bulletin of Marine Science

ISSN

0007-4977

Volume

58

Issue/No.

1

First Page

314

Last Page

323

Abstract

Maxillipius commensalis Lowry, is reported as an ectocommensal on arborescent gorgonaceans from coral reefs at Madang, Papua New Guinea. The family is reviewed and the male of this species is described. In-situ behavior studies show the amphipods to crowd close together in large numbers on one side of a gorgonian stalk. The terminal articles of the sixth pereopods are greatly elongated and whip-like and are waved at the sides in a circular motion, possibly facilitating spacing or feeding. When disturbed, the amphipods react en masse as a coherent group rather than as individuals.

Comments

Funds for field work were supplied by grants from the National Geographic Society (3723-87 and 4421-90), and the National Science Foundation (DEB-89-15688) to the author.

NSUWorks Citation

James Darwin Thomas. 1996. Ecology and Behavior of Maxillipius commensalis, a Gorgonophile Amphipod from Madang, Papua New Guinea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maxillipiidae) .Bulletin of Marine Science , (1) : 314 -323. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/583.