Dear All,

Kay pointed out the same sort of question that I have been
wondering for some time.

Cowry shells are attacked by certain small octopuses in aquarium
and victimized shells show very small (less than 0.5 mm dia.)
pinholes, often more than one. As cowry shells are not protected
by operculum, I wonder why drilling is necessary. One clue might
be that the area where pinholes are made tended to be close to
the tail end of the soft body when it retreat deep inside. Perhaps,
the prey might first be paralyzed by injection of something before
it would be extracted out of the shell.

Masashi Yamaguchi
Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
Okinawa, Japan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kay Peterson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 5:35 AM
Subject: Re: a variety of drill holes in shells - octopod borings


> Don't you think that there might be an easier way for an Octopus to get a
> hermit crab out of its borrowed shell without resorting to drilling?
> Drilling
> must take some time.
>
> Kay
>

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