Cerithidea decollata: a snail that can foresee the future?

Lack of inter-individual information exchange among migratingCerithidea decollata(Mollusca Potamididae)

“…Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes (length 2 m, diameter 20 cm), simulating Avicennia trees, were planted vertically in the muddy ground of the mangrove, at least 1 day before testing, and animals were released within few centimetres of the pipe base (VANNINI et al 2008b). A fence (a vertical plastic net) was set up to keep the different pipes with different experimental groups separated.…”

“…While other aspects of the behaviour of C. decollata and the behaviour of similar species have been investigated (COCKCROFT & FORBES 1981;MCGUINNESS 1994;HARUMI et al 2002;HODGSON & DICKENS 2012), studies have rarely focused on understanding how the snails may foresee the timing of the tides and the tide level (VANNINI et al 2008b). Other intertidal molluscs, gastropods (Nerita textilis, VANNINI & CHELAZZI 1978) and chitons (Acanthopeura spp., CHELAZZI et al 1983), living on exposed rocky shores are known to vertically migrate twice a day, preceding the HW, being regularly submerged or at least contacted by the waves (at ST) or water spray (at NT).…”

“…During neap tide (NT), migration is suspended and many snails (all of them, in a related Australian species, C. anticipata; MCGUINNESS 1994) remain on the trunk, far 4 from the hot and dry ground. Snails have been observed to climb trees about 2 hr before the arrival of water, settling between 20 and 60 cm above the level that the water will reach; as the water retreats, they descend to the ground to feed (VANNINI et al 2008b).…”

“…A biological clock is thought to control C. decollata migratory periodicity (VANNINI et al 2008c), but the capability of this species to predict not only when the tide will arrive, but also how high the incoming tide will be remains unexplained (VANNINI et al 2008b).…”

Could Ambient Vibrations Be Related to <i>Cerithidea decollate</i> Migration?

“…It is known to feed on the ground and climb the trees settling on the trunk to avoid submersion [7]. Before the water arrival, tenths of snails can be seen climbing, and clustering about 40 cm above the level that water will reach only 2 -3 hours later [9] [12]. Migration takes place about twice a day with relevant exceptions: around certain STs, snails may remain permanently on the trunk and only few individuals can be seen crawling on the ground, while during certain NTs-when water doesn't reach the observation site-animals can settle on the dry ground for 1 -3 days [9].…”