Behaviour

Reteterabella queenslandia demonstrates strong crypsis behaviour, with an aversion to light and a sensory system that specialises in identifying areas where it is able to hide. The tentacles of R. queenslandia have photoreceptors on the tips. These photoreceptors are able to distinguish between light and dark. R. queenslandia uses this information to seek out crevices and areas that are protected from predation.
	Tentacles of R. queenslandia extending across the sand in search of food.
	When the tentacles of R. queenslandia are touched, the rapidly recoil into their crevice and attempt to move away. This demonstrates that they have mechanical sensors as well as photoreceptors in their tentacles. When their crevice is disturbed, like when their boulder is turned over, they are also mobile enough to attempt to swim to safety, abandoning their protective shell. Because of this, we believe that the protective tube created by R. queenslandia is not as significant for survival as finding shelter. When placed in aquaria with very little sand, they were able to rebuild protective tubing within 24 hours.