BEHAVIOR OF EPIPERIPATUS-BIOLLEYI (ONYCHOPHORA, PERIPATIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

The behavior of Epiperipatus biolleyi Bouvier was studied in the labor atory. In choice tests, bryophyte vegetation and its associated soil w ere preferred to grass and its soil. In 87 hr the animals changed arti ficial burrows 2.89 times. They enter burrows mostly by walking forwar d and show a tendency Lo mst facing the entrance. No agressive competi tion for burrows was observed. Pairs rest with some body contact about half the time. Seven resting body postures were identified. They hide from direct sunlight in 189 s (mean) when placed over moss and appear to avoid light around 470-600 nm. Walking speed was near 1 cm/s. They float and become tergid in freshwater but drown in sea water. Their a dhesive secretion has a bitter taste and dissolves in less than 3 s in sea water but remains adhesive under freshwater for at least 20 hr. I n nature, animals bear scars and mutilated oncopods. Death is often pr eceded by a retraction of the antennae and expulsion of saliva, adhesi ve substance, faeces and sometimes embryos. Ecdysis occurs aproximatel y every 15 days. At least one bird (Turdus grayii) and one snake (Micr urus hemprichii) am known to prey on other onychophoran species in the wild.