NOTE BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 52(1):75-79, 2004 FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF Scolelepis sp. (POLYCHAETA: SPIONIDAE)

Scolelepis sp., is abundant in the intertidal zone of sandy beaches along the coast of the state of São Paulo (Amaral et al., 1995). It is morphologically very similar to Scololepis squamata and may be part of a species complex, because some morphological variations (probably induced by changes in environmental factors such as salinity, temperature, or different sediment types) can be found in individuals from the same locality. Individuals can reach lengths of about 80 mm. The acuminate prostomium has 4-5 eyes arranged in a row, a prominent caruncula, and two long tentacular palps which are occasionally lost. According to Dauer (1983), who studied Scolelepis squamata, in contrast to most spionids this species has no sulcus along the palps, but the palps are provided with two compact rows of immovable cilia of unknown function. Next to these cilia are cells that secrete mucus to trap food particles. At the base of each palp there is a simple row of movable cilia, which appear to play no role in feeding (Dauer, 1983). Like other spionids, Scolelepis sp. feeds at or just above the water-sediment interface, using its multifunctional palps to search for, grasp, transport, and/or reject foo