CEPHALOPODS BURYING IN SOFT SUBSTRATA - AGENTS OF BIOTURBATION

Among the bottom-living cephalopods, those able to dig into soft subst rata show special behaviour patterns involving coordinated mantle/funn el, fin, and arm movements. This activity is triggered by light, and i n the euphotic zone thus occurs at least once in a 24 h cycle. Effects of burial on the sediments are considered, drawing attention to the l ikely chemical side effects, especially relating to the mucus released by burying cephalopods. Persistent burrows are produced only by some octopuses. Their burial activities and the sand/mud digging of many sq uids and cuttlefishes are likely to play a notable role in bioturbatio n.