Sponges are filter-feeding animals. since they lack a nervous system or means of locomotion, don't expect to see much behavior here (except perhaps during reproduction)
Tropical Marine Biology- Animal Behavior (A print-out is here)
Phylum Porifera
Sponges are filter-feeding animals. since they lack a nervous system or means of
locomotion, don't expect to see much behavior here (except
perhaps during reproduction)
Phylum Cnidaria
A nerve net system
(without a brain) is seen in the Cnidarians. Many are very
active while others are sedentary.
Some animals have developed a symbiotic relationship with anemones
Videos
Another sea anemone
Anemone Fish moving in
Soft coral defense
Soft pink coral
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Flatworms have a more complex nervous system and a brain.
Video: A freshwater flatworm as an example of locomotion.
Phylum Mollusca
Bivalves spend most of their time just sitting there, quietly feeding. However,
they can burrow (VIDEO) and some,
like the scallops, can swim!
Snails, Slugs, and Nudibranchs (VIDEO) Also see an abalone escape response
Chitons (VIDEO)
Octopods
Videos:
Comparison of Mollusks Movie
Octopus Crawling
Octopus slithering into a bottle- a demonstration of flexibility
Octopus escape responses
Octopus escape responses: 1) be a chunk of sea weed or sponge, 2) Be big!, 3) Use camouflage to hide on a rock, 4) surprise the predator by blanching, 5) Inking, and 6) being really weird looking with big, dangerous eyes
Prey capture and color changes. More is here
Bipedal octopus one and two (and three - this has been done before)
Phylum Annelida
Polycaete worms
Tubeworms in coral
Phylum Arthropoda
Crabs and shrimp
Phylum Echinodermata
Sea stars, crinoids, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Urochordata
Subphylum
Cephalochordata
Subphylum Vertebrata;
Bony Fish and
Cartilaginous Fish
Various Reef Fish
