Een bijzondere bescherming van eikapsels bij Nassarius brunneostoma (Stearns)

Nassarius brunneostoma (Stearns) was observed crawling on the high sandy tidal flat with egg capsules attached to its operculum., early May 1993, during a short visit to Cholla Bay, Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, N. Gulf of California. This broodprotection was reported before, and is probably related to the fact that sandy tidal flats offer little opportunity for safe attachment of egg capsules. More-over, it may protect against predators. Peringia ulvae (Pennant), a hydrobiid living on comparable tidal flats in the Wadden Sea also shows broodprotection: it fastens its egg capsules to shells of both male and female P. ulvae. Suggestions are given for experimental research on the functional aspects of this broodprotection. Moreover, attention is called to a nice series of papers by D’Asaro on the worldwide collection of prosobranch egg capsules of the late Gunnar Thorson.