The locomotory behaviour and functional morphology of English populations of a small (<2 cm long), burrowing athenarian sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis Stephenson, 1935 (= N. pellucida Crowell, 1946), which lives in soft mud in salt marshes and creeks, are described. Objectives were to ascertain the specific stimuli and environmental conditions determining when and how locomotion is employed, and to assess survival values. Experimentation and anatomical examination revealed how anemones move, and their functional morphology was interpreted in a physiological context. Finally, locomotion, morphology and habitat were compared for several athenarian anemones, to ascertain what correlations there are, if any. Essential environmental conditions for N.... |