ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND HOMING OF ACANTHOPLEURA-GEMMATA (BLAINVILLE, 1825) (MOLLUSCA, POLYPLACOPHORA) IN THE ROCKY INTERTIDAL OF THE JORDAN GULF OF AQABA

Acanthopleura gemmata forages and homes irrespective of the time of day. Feeding excursions begin when the water depth of the ebbing tide over the individual is around 10 cm or less and homing occurs prior to the level of the flooding tide reaching about the same depth. The patterns of behavior differ significantly from those of A. gemmata previously reported at Heron Island, Australia and in Somalia. Reduced predation pressure is considered to be one of the factors accounting for this difference in behavior.