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Read full entryPteraeolidia ianthina
Pteraeolidia ianthina is a species aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.[2][3]
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Distribution
They are found in diverse habitats and among shallow coral reefs throughout Southwestern Pacific Ocean, from Hawaii to the Philippines, to the Northeast Australian waters and New Zealand
Description
Pteraeolidia ianthina, one of the most common aeolids found, is often called a "blue dragon" by Eastern Australian divers because of its close resemblance to a Chinese dragon.[4] It is one of the most common aeolid nudibranchs found in Eastern Australia. It can inflict a painful sting to humans.
The body color of this species is translucent tan, but the cerata, which vary from dark purple to lavender to golden brown, give the nudibranch most of its distinct color, green specimens are not uncommon.
The slug is very elongated (7 cm) with many clusters of medium-large sized cerata along the length of the body. The fat rhinophores and the long cephalic tentacles have at least two dark purple bands that stand out. The tips of the cerata contain nematocysts.
Symbiotic zooxanthellae continue to photosynthesise inside the body and give rise to brown and green pigments. The zooxanthellae, together with the nematocysts, are presumed to be derived from coelenterate prey. These zooxanthellae occur within vacuoles in host cells derived from the endoderm.[5]
Young specimens are much shorter, have fewer cerata, and are often mistaken for other nudibranch species.[3][6]
Solar powered
This sea slug has evolved the ability to harness the sun's energy for its own use. This is possible because the slug feeds on hydroids which contain symbiotic zooxanthellae, microscopic dinoflagellates that are photosynthetic — in other words that have the capability to make sugars from sunshine. The nudibranch farms these zooxanthellae within its own digestive diverticula. The zooxanthellae then convert the sun's energy into sugars. The sugars are used by the slug.[7]
References
- ^ a b (French) Angas G. F. (1864). "Description d'espèces nouvelles appartenant à plusieurs genres de Mollusques Nudibranches des environs de Port-Jackson (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud), accompagnée de dessins faits d'après nature". Journal de Conchyliologie, series 3, 12: 43-70, pls. 4-6. Description is the page 66-67. Plate 6, figure 6.
- ^ Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. ISBN 3-925919-72-4. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp. http://www.vliz.be/Vmdcdata/imis2/ref.php?refid=78278
- ^ a b Rosenberg, G. (2012). Pteraeolidia ianthina. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213527 on 1 September 2012
- ^ http://www.philippine-seaslugs.com/AEOLIDINA/Pteraeolidia_ianthina.htm Pteraeolidia ianthina
- ^ Sutton & Hoegh-Guldberg, Host-Zooxanthella Interactions in Four Temperate Marine Symbioses; Assessment of Effect of Host Extract on Symbionts; The Biological bulletin, Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, Mass.). v. 178 (1990) p. 175
- ^ http://seaslugsofhawaii.com/species/Pteraeolidia-ianthina-a.htm Pteraeolidia ianthiana by Cory Pittman and Pauline Fiene
- ^ http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=pteriant
Further reading
- Rudman, W. B. (1982). "The taxonomy and biology of further aeolidacean and arminacean nudibranch molluscs with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 74(2):147-196.
- Yonow, N., R. Anderson C. & ButtressS. G. (2002). "Opisthobranch molluscs from the Chagos archipelago, central Indian Ocean". Journal of Natural History 36(7): 831-882.
- Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91-630-4594-X. 448 pp. (
- Willan, R. (2009). Opisthobranchia (Mollusca). In: Gordon, D. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume One: Kingdom Animalia. 584 pp
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