BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Osilinus lineatus
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Nova Mieszkowska	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
General Biology
Growth form	Turbinate	Feeding method	Herbivore
Mobility/Movement	Crawler	Environmental position	Epilithic Epifaunal
Typical food types	Microalgae	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Robust	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Up to 3 cm	Growth Rate	See additional information
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	Growth Rate Initially rapid, Osilinus lineatus can grow up to 7-8mm in diameter between spawning and December (Fretter & Graham, 1977; Kendall et al.,1987), although the average size of newly settled animals is around 3mm (pers. obs.). Growth slows down and may stop in the first winter and every successive winter, before increasing in spring (Williams, 1965). One year post settlement, juveniles can reach 11-15mm (Fretter & Graham 1977, Fretter, 1988). Growth slows in adults when they become sexually mature but continues throughout the life of the animal. Feeding Osilinus lineatus feeds on microscopic algae, which it grazes from rock surfaces using a brush-like radula on the tongue. Feeding is assumed to occur at night or during high water (Crothers, 2001) as no observations of feeding during daylight or at low water have been published. Respiration Osilinus lineatus has a gill for respiration in water and a well vascularised mantle cavity which allows the animal to breathe in air (Crothers, 2001). Sensory Osilinus lineatus detects its environment by means of two stalk eyes and a pair of sensory tentacles on the head, and three pairs of sensory tentacles on the foot.
Biology References	Hawkins & Jones, 1992, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward et al., 1996, Crothers 2001, Desai, 1966, Fretter & Graham, 1977, Graham, 1988, Kendall et al., 1987, Williams, 1965., Williamson & Kendall, 1981,