Abstract
Sweeper tentacles of Galaxea fascicularis have a different nematocyst composition than do ordinary tentacles. The sweeper tentacles contain many large microbasic b-mastigophores (MbM) instead of the microbasic p-mastigophores (MpM) which are abundant in the acrospheres of ordinary tentacles. There is, however, an intermediate type of tentacle which has both large MbM and MpM. These tentacles may represent those undergoing transformation from ordinary into sweeper tentacles or vice versa. Two polyps isolated from the same colony (syngeneic pairs), or from colonies belonging to different colour morphs (presumed allogeneic pairs), were set about 5 mm apart with tentacles touching, and then maintained for about two months in this position. Tissue fusion was observed only in syngeneic pairs. In some allogeneic combinations, one polyp of the pair was damaged or killed by the other. The dominant polyp developed many sweeper tentacles. In other allogeneic combinations, both polyps survived and no, or only a few, sweeper tentacles were formed. Tissue fusion also failed to occur in the allogeneic combinations.
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Hidaka, M., Yamazato, K. Intraspecific interactions in a scleractinian coral, Galaxea fascicularis: Induced formation of sweeper tentacles. Coral Reefs 3, 77–85 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263757
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263757