The diet of Ophionereis reticulata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The ophiuroid Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825) occurs in the sediment-rocky shore interface, under small stones. Its diet is analyzed in this short communication. Specimens were collected at the Praia Grande beach, located on the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in July, 2002 and January, 2003. The animals were fixed in 70% ethanol and dissected to obtain their stomach contents. Of the total (35), 77.1% (27) had ingested some kind of food and, among those, 81.4% (22) had more than one item. The mean number of food items per stomach was 1.9. Ophionereis reticulata is an omnivorous species, consuming sediment, green and red algae, and polychaetes.<br>O ofiuróide Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825) ocorre na interface sedimento rocha de costões rochosos, sob pequenas pedras. Alguns aspectos de sua dieta alimentar foram analisados nesta nota. A amostragem foi realizada na Praia Grande, localizada no litoral norte do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os indivíduos, coletados em julho de 2002 e janeiro de 2003, foram fixados em álcool 70% e dissecados para obtenção de seus conteúdos estomacais. Do total (35), 77,1% (27) tinham ingerido algum tipo de alimento, e destes, 81,4% (22) possuíam mais de um item. O número médio de itens alimentares por estômago foi 1,9. Ophionereis reticulata é uma espécie onívora, consumindo sedimento, algas verdes e vermelhas, e poliquetas

A taxonomic guide to the brittle-stars (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) from the State of Paraíba continental shelf, Northeastern Brazil

“…It displays negative phototaxy, prefering dark crevices (Borges and Amaral 2005). The species is omnivorous, but feeding mainly on food of vegetable origin (Yokoyama and Amaral 2008). The ambulacral feet are used to dig, to maintain a flow of particles for feeding, including algae and diatom filaments from the surface sediment, and for locomotion (Hendler et al 1995).…”

New records of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from shallow waters off Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil

“…Specimens were very common in small tide pools on the reef platforms, showing tolerance to high temperatures and desiccation. Ophionereis reticulata is omnivorous and is known to consume polychaetes, also green and red algae (Yokoyama & Amaral, 2008). Ophionereis reticulata is omnivorous and is known to consume polychaetes, also green and red algae (Yokoyama & Amaral, 2008).…”

Global Diversity of Brittle Stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

“…Several species in the family Ophiuridae are carnivorous: Ophiura ophiura Linnaeus, 1758 hunts epibenthic animals, whereas Ophiura albida Forbes, 1839 and Ophiura sarsii Lütken, 1855 can hunt infaunal prey, scavenge carrion or feed off seafloor organic matter [21] and the Antarctic Ophiosparte gigas Koehler, 1922 is known to be an active predator of at least 10 phyla [22] . Ophionereis reticulata (Say, 1825) (Ophionereididae) is omnivorous, consuming both plant (algae) and animal material (polychaetes), as well as sediment, possibly scavenging or deposit feeding [23] , amphiurids typically live in burrows, extending some of their arms above the sediment surface, collecting food from the burrow walls, the sediment surface and the water column with their tube feet [24] , but the stomach content of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1828) included fine particles as well as a wide range of animal and plant fragments indicating an omnivorous habit [25] .…”