Functional morphology of burrows and trophic modes of three thalassinidean shrimp species, and a new approach to the classification of thalassinidean burrow morphology

Abstract

Callianassa subterranea, Jaxea nocturna and Upogebia stellata, from organically enriched sediments on the west coast of Scotland, were studied. They exhibit a degree of plasticity in their feeding, and different trophic modes can be utilized in order to exploit the most advantageous food source available. The burrow of each species is described in terms of functional morphology with respect to feeding and discussed in relation to existing models of thalassinidean burrow architecture. A new approach to thalassinidean trophic classification, based on individual components of burrow morphology rather than the complete burrow, is proposed. -from Authors