Chornesky Elizabeth A
Biol Bull. 1983 Dec;165(3):569-581. doi: 10.2307/1541466.
The scleractinian coral Agaricia agaricites often has elongate sweeper tentacles on colony margins close to other sessile animals. Sweeper tentacles can damage tissues of opponents and are probably used in direct competition for substrate space. Furthermore, contact with tissues or mesenterial filaments of other corals, or with tissues of the gorgonian Erythropodium caribaeorum or the zooanthid Palythoa caribbea can stimulate the development of sweeper tentacles by A. agaricites. Depending on both the particular competitor species involved and the distance separating it from A. agaricites, events leading to the development of sweeper tentacles may or may not include tissue loss by A. agaricites. On average the development of sweeper tentacles takes thirty days, and is localized exclusively on tissues close to the region in contact with competitors. Sweeper tentacles do not develop in response to artificial stimuli simulating tactile contact or damage such as occur in natural interactions with other corals. Thus, recognition of competitor tissues appears to be a necessary stimulus for sweeper formation.
石珊瑚类的扁脑珊瑚通常在靠近其他固着动物的群体边缘处长有细长的清扫触手。清扫触手会损伤对手的组织，可能用于直接争夺基质空间。此外，与其他珊瑚的组织或肠系膜丝接触，或与柳珊瑚加勒比红珊瑚或群体海葵加勒比群体海葵的组织接触，都能刺激扁脑珊瑚长出清扫触手。根据所涉及的特定竞争物种以及它与扁脑珊瑚的距离，导致清扫触手发育的事件可能会也可能不会包括扁脑珊瑚的组织损失。清扫触手的发育平均需要30天，并且仅局限于靠近与竞争者接触区域的组织上。清扫触手不会因模拟触觉接触或损伤的人工刺激而发育，比如在与其他珊瑚的自然相互作用中发生的那种刺激。因此，识别竞争者组织似乎是形成清扫触手的必要刺激因素。
