Ecology Summary - Vexilla vexillum

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Ecology of Vexilla vexillum

Main Ref.	Poutiers, J.M., 1998
Remarks	Inhabits shallow subtidal waters. Lives parasitically on sea urchins on which they feed by protruding a long snout between the spines. Occurs at the low tide mark.

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Vexilla vexillum may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom: sand; mud; Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Springsteen, F.J. and F.M. Leobrera, 1986
Special habitats	Beds: rock; Coral Reefs; Other habitats: other invertebrates (On sea urchins);
Special habitats Ref.	Springsteen, F.J. and F.M. Leobrera, 1986

Associations

Ref.	Poutiers, J.M., 1998
Associations	parasitism;
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Poutiers, J.M., 1998
Feeding habit	feeding on a host (parasite)
Feeding habit Ref.	Poutiers, J.M., 1998

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	3.51	0.15			Tentative trophic level derived from 1 + troph of a single food item
Ref.