SAND MOISTURE AS A FACTOR DETERMINING DEPTH OF BURROWING IN THE ONISCID ISOPOD TYLOS-GRANULATUS KRAUSS

Tylos granulatus, a sandy-beach isopod, prefers an environmental moist ure range exceeding 3,4% but less than 13%. The depths to which the an imals burrow are, at least partly, determined by the moisture gradient in the sand. They are, however, incapable of burrowing into totally d ry sand. Animals after their position in the sand in response to chang es in moisture content so as to ensure exposure to suitable conditions .