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Characterization of boreholes by Octopus dofleini in the bivalve Saxidomus giganteus
Author(s) -
Ambrose R. F.,
Leighton B. J.,
Hartwick E. B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb03755.x
Subject(s) - borehole , octopus (software) , biology , shell (structure) , geology , paleontology , engineering , chemistry , computational chemistry , civil engineering
Octopus dofleini (Wulker) drills holes in mollusc shells, enabling it to introduce venom. Boreholes in the bivalve Saxidomus giganteus (Deshayes) were generally irregular. Thick shells were more likely to have incomplete boreholes, and the diameter of completed boreholes was larger than in thin shells. A comparison of boreholes to fractured and artificially drilled surfaces suggests that O. dofleini employs chemical dissolution of the shell during drilling.