Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the distribution of Pantopoda species living on Sargassum of Ubatuba and Itanhaém (northern and southern coast at São Paulo State, respectively) were studied. The results showed the occunence of nine Pantopoda species. The highest relative frequency was assigned to Tanystylum isahellae Marcus, 1940. In general the density of Pantopoda species was related to that of Hydrozoa covering Sargassum.

This work deals with feeding tests performed in laboratory with Pantopoda species, Tanystylum isabellae Marcus, 1940 and Anoplodactylus stictus Marcus, 1940. Animals (alive and dead) and vegetable foods were offered to males without eggs, males with eggs, females and juveniles Pantopoda. Of the 13 types of food offered to the animals only Sertularia Linnaeus, 1758 (Hydrozoa). Amathia distans Busk, 1886 (Bryozoa), Hyale media (Dana, 1853) (Crustacea, Gammaridea), Caprella danilevskii Czerniavski, 1868 (Crustacea-Caprellidae), Artemia salina Leach, 1812 (Crustacea, Anostraca) e Perna perna (Linné, 1758) (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) were actually eaten. The macroalgae Sargassum C. Agardh, 1820; Padina Adanson, 1763; Chaetomorpha Kützing, 1845 and Ulva Linnaeus. 1753, the Hydrozoa Dynamena (Linnaeus, 1758), Polychaeta aixl anemon fragments weren't accepted.