FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 69, NO. 3 



Figure S.—Pisnster gi(janieus and Kelletia kelletii jointly feeding on a date mussel, Botula (Adula) falcata. 

 Note: The sea star's tube feet are touching the whelk's foot. 



an isolate feeding. In many instances the snails 

 were believed to be feeding since the proboscis 

 was extended into a hole or within the substra- 

 tum, and yet rarely was the food item identified. 

 Most of the scavenger feedings by K. kelletii 

 attract more than one individual. In one in- 

 stance, 8.5 K. kelletii were clustered around and 

 feeding on a dead bass, Paralabrax sp., off Point 

 Loma. Aggregate feedings on carrion or dying 

 animals appeared to be the usual mode of feeding 

 in these subtidal areas. 



CONVERGENT FEEDING BEHAVIOR 



A unique and yet reoccurring behavior pat- 

 tern has been observed in those subtidal habitats 

 where both species are found. P. giganteus and 

 K. kelletii converge and attempt to feed on a 

 common prey organism at the same time ( Figure 

 3). Usually P. giganteus began to feed first, 

 with the whelks grouped around the sea star 

 (Figure 4). In many instances K. kelletii were 



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