OBSERVATIONS ON BURROWING IN THE VENERIDAE (EULAMELLIBRANCHIA)

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Abstract
Observations of burrowing movements of Veneridae were studied and generalized time motion pattern of this kind of activity was defined. Recordings were made of the time/sequence of movements of Venus striatula, Venus casina, Dosinia lupinus, Venerupis decussata and Mercenaria mercenaria. All observations were made on mollusks burrowing in clean sand. The digging-period was considered as the time elapsed from the start of the burrowing until the final position in the sand was reached. The observations showed a basic sequence of movements involved in burrowing of bivalves. This sequence is common to all Veneridae, The pattern of time/sequence and depth/sequence may arise from the intrinsic nervous mechanism or from extrinsic environmental factors. Observations that the siphons maintain contact with the surface of the substratum throughout the digging period and that extension of the siphons follows each downward movement suggests that burrowing may cease in response to stimuli originating from the siphons.

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