title: Prey-handling behaviour of Octopus vulgaris (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) on Bivalve preys.
abstract: This study examines the ability of Octopus vulgaris to prey on bivalve molluscs showing that octopuses exhibited the same behavioural pattern irrespective of the prey species. When the initial pulling method did not result efficient octopuses skipped to drilling accompanied by an increase in the handling time. A complete behavioural repertoire of O. vulgaris in handling bivalve preys is also given.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Neurobiologia, Stazione Zoologica 'Anton Dohrn' di Napoli, Villa Comunale, I-80121 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: g.fiorito@area.ba.cnr.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorito
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica 'Leo Pardi', Università di Firenze, via Romana 17, I-50125 Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gherardi
keywords: Feeding behavior; Mollusca; Octopus; Predatory behavior