FEEDING ACTIVITY OF LIMAX VALENTIANUS FERUSSAC: NOCTURNAL RHYTHM AND ALIMENTARY COMPETITION

Feeding activity of the slug Limax valentianus Férus-sacthroughout a 24-hour period began with the decrease in light.Feeding began 41 minutes after the start of locomotor activityand showed a maximum level in the beginning of the night L.valentianus had two to five meals each night, each meal lasting8.5 to 14 minutes. The overcrowding of the slugs induced a shorterduration of individual feeding periods and acts of aggressionduring meals. ^*Present address: Centre de Neurochimie, Laboratoire de neurobiologiemolécuiaire des interactions cellulaires. 5 rue BlaisePascal, 67084 Strasbourg, France (Received 7 July 1996; accepted 21 April 1997)