HOW TO BITE THE DUST - MORPHOLOGY, MOTION PATTERN AND FUNCTION OF THEFEEDING APPENDAGES OF THE DEPOSIT-FEEDING THALASSINID SHRIMP CALLIANASSA-SUBTERRANEA

The morphology of the mouthparts of Callianassa subterranea (Montagu, 1808) was studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microsc opy. All the mouthparts except the mandible, but including the mandibu lar palp, appeared to be supplied with a wide variety of setae. The se tae of the medial rims of these appendages (the ''ventral screens'') s how a trend of decreasing passive motility towards the oral side; this applies to the setae themselves as well as the microstructures on the setae. The motion of the mouthparts was filmed from aboral and rostra l views with macrovideo and endoscopy equipment, after marking the joi nts and tips of maxillipeds and the mandibles. Motion analysis showed that all mouthparts except the first maxilla (Mx1) actively moved duri ng deposit feeding. The first and second maxillipeds (MP1, MP2), Mx2 a nd the mandibles moved at the same frequency, contralateral in phase, but with a 50% phase shift between ipsilateral mouthparts. The MP3 mov ed at a lower frequency with a contra-lateral phase shift of about 50% without an obvious phase relation with the other mouthparts. Accordin g to the following scenario, the feeding mechanism of C. subterranea s eems to be based on the morphology and motion of the appendages in com bination with specific setal functions. The MP3 make large excursions over the substrate, suspending the sediment in front of the MP2. The M P2 move through the upper layer of the suspension, trapping particles of 30 mu m and smaller. These particles are combed out by the MP1 and transferred to the mouth opening by the cascade of finely structured s etae of the inner mouthparts, and finally ingested.