Fig. 6.
Normal behaviors are restored in regenerated animals by 7 days post amputation (dpa). a-c Representative regenerated animal pre-feeding (a), during feeding (b), and 3 h post feeding at 7dpa (c). Asterisks identify the locations of brine shrimp during capture, ingestion, and digestion. Note the increase in orange pigment in the mesenteries due to the digestion of the brine shrimp in c. All regenerates were capable of capturing, ingesting, and digesting prey (n = 6/6 small; 5/5 medium; 5/5 medium-large; 6/6 large). Arrows in a and c highlight peristaltic wave movements. d Animals in all size categories carried out similar numbers of peristaltic waves by 7dpa (F3,17 = 1.16, p = 0.35, ηp2 = 0.17). e–l Response to the poking assay is maintained in regenerated animals (n = 5/5 small, 6/6 medium, 5/5 medium-large, 6/6 large). e–h Nematostella responded to the touch stimulus by retracting its tentacles when touched with a toothpick. i–l At 7dpa, the same animal again responded to being poked with a toothpick by retracting its tentacles