PRELIMINARY-OBSERVATIONS ON PARENTAL CARE IN SPHAEROMA-TEREBRANS BATE1866 (ISOPODA SPHAEROMATIDAE), A MANGROVE WOOD BORER FROM KENYA

In November 1991 numerous specimens of the wood-boring isopod Sphaerom a terebrans were collected from mangrove forests along the coast of Ke nya. The presence of burrows occupied by an adult female or by a coupl e and several young (1 to 26) was noted. The frequency of these ''fami ly burrows'' is scarce, only 5% of all inhabited burrows. The dimensio ns of males and females in the ''family burrows'' are larger than thos e living alone. In some of the ''family burrows'' a mixed brood was pr esent. Activity is very scarce and difficult to observe in nature. A f ew observations were conducted in a ''field'' laboratory. When the bur rows are exposed at low tide, activity stops and the young gather at t he bottom while an adult obstructs the entrace with its pleotelson. Wh en the roots are covered by water, some adults can be seen digging and filter-feeding. Some behaviours of young and adults are described.