Vol. 51 No. 6, 2012

An Association between Hesione picta (Polychaeta: Hesionidae) and Ophionereis reticulata (Ophiuroidea: Ophionereididae) from the Brazilian Coast

José Eriberto De Assis*, Emerson de Azevedo Silva Bezerra, Rafael Justino de Brito, Anne Isabelley Gondim, and Martin Lindsey Christofferse

Laboratório e Coleção de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

José Eriberto De Assis, Emerson de Azevedo Silva Bezerra, Rafael Justino de Brito, Anne Isabelley Gondim, and Martin Lindsey Christoffersen (2012) This paper is the 1st report on the association between Hesione picta and Ophionereis reticulata, based on specimens found in the southwestern Atlantic, State of Paraíba, Brazil.  The associated partners were found under rocks during low tide.  We studied 30 specimens of O. reticulata, which harbored 30 hesionids.  Observations of animals in aquaria showed that the polychaete responded to the presence of the ophiuroid, slowly crawling until it touched the latter.  After recognizing its partner, the polychaete remained in its habitual position on the aboral surface of the ophiuroid, as also observed in the natural environment.  On the other hand, when the hesionid was placed with other ophiuroid species which coexist at the same locality, the animals withdrew from each other.

Key words: Hesionid, Ophionereidid, Intertidal fauna.

*Correspondence: E-mail:eri.assis@gmail.com