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Thecosomata
Sea butterflies, scientific name Thecosomata (thecosomes, "case / shell-body"), are a taxonomic suborder of small pelagic swimming sea snails. They are holoplanktonic opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. Most Thecosomata have some form of calcified shell, although it is often very light and / or transparent. The sea butterflies include some of the world's most abundant gastropod species, and because of their large numbers are an essential part of the food chain, and a significant contributor to the oceanic carbon cycle. The sea butterflies are included in the Pteropoda order, and are also included in the informal group Opisthobranchia. Morphology Sea butterflies float and swim freely in the water, and are carried along with the currents. This has led to a number of adaptations in their bodies. The shell and the gill have disappeared in several families. Their gastropodal foot has taken the form of two wing-like lobes, or ''parapodia'', which propel the animal through the sea by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sea Butterfly
Sea butterflies, scientific name Thecosomata (thecosomes, "case / shell-body"), are a taxonomic suborder of small pelagic swimming sea snails. They are holoplanktonic opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. Most Thecosomata have some form of calcified shell, although it is often very light and / or transparent. The sea butterflies include some of the world's most abundant gastropod species, and because of their large numbers are an essential part of the food chain, and a significant contributor to the oceanic carbon cycle. The sea butterflies are included in the Pteropoda order, and are also included in the informal group Opisthobranchia. Morphology Sea butterflies float and swim freely in the water, and are carried along with the currents. This has led to a number of adaptations in their bodies. The shell and the gill have disappeared in several families. Their gastropodal foot has taken the form of two wing-like lobes, or ''parapodia'', which propel the animal through the sea by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limacina Helicina
''Limacina helicina'' is a species of small swimming planktonic sea snail in the family Limacinidae, which belong to the group commonly known as sea butterflies (Thecosomata). ''Limacina helicina'' is a keystone species of mesozooplankton in Arctic pelagic ecosystems. The first written record of this species was by Friderich Martens from Spitsbergen in 1675. ''Limacina helicina'' was also observed during a 1773 expedition to the Arctic led by Constantine John Phipps on the ships HMS ''Racehorse'' and on HMS ''Carcass'' and the species was described one year later, in 1774. ''Limacina helicina'' is the type species of the genus ''Limacina''. In contrast to the traditional view, it was shown in 2010 that the distribution of this species is not bipolar; Arctic and Antarctic individuals belong to two genetically distinct species: ''Limacina helicina'' in the Arctic, and ''Limacina antarctica'' in the Antarctic. Subspecies * ''Limacina helicina helicina'' (Phipps, 1774)Bouc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pteropoda
Pteropoda (common name pteropods, from the Greek meaning "wing-foot") are specialized free-swimming pelagic sea snails and sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropods. Most live in the top 10 m of the ocean and are less than 1 cm long. The monophyly of Pteropoda is the subject of a lengthy debate; they have even been considered as paraphyletic with respect to cephalopods. Current consensus, guided by molecular studies, leans towards interpreting the group as monophyletic. Pteropoda encompasses the two clades Thecosomata, the sea butterflies, and Gymnosomata, the sea angels. The Thecosomata ( "case-body") have a shell, while the Gymnosomata ("naked body") do not. The two clades may or may not be sister taxa; if not, their similarity (in that they are both pelagic, small, and transparent, and both groups swim using wing-like flaps (parapodia) which protrude from their bodies) may reflect adaptation to their particular lifestyle. Taxonomy The group Pteropoda was established by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Opisthobranchia
Opisthobranchs () is now an informal name for a large and diverse group of specialized complex gastropods which used to be united in the subclass Opisthobranchia. That taxon is no longer considered to represent a monophyletic grouping. Euopisthobranchia is a taxon containing a revised collection of opisthobranchs, and that taxon is considered monophyletic. Euopisthobranchia does not include some "traditional" opisthobranchs such as the Sacoglossa and the Acochlidiacea. The subclass Heterobranchia now contains all the species which used to be assigned to Opisthobranchia, plus all the species in the Pulmonata. The subclass Opisthobranchia included species in the order Cephalaspidea (bubble shells and headshield slugs), the sacoglossans, anaspidean sea hares, pelagic sea angels, sea butterflies, and many families of the Nudibranchia. ''Opisthobranch'' means "gills behind" (and to the right) of the heart. In contrast, ''Prosobranch'' means ''gills in front'' (of the heart). Opist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limacinidae
The Limacinidae are a family of small sea snails, pteropods, pelagic marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Thecosomata (sea butterflies).Bouchet, P. (2012). Limacinidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=13704 on 2012-07-18 Genera Genera within the family Limacinidae include: * '' Altaspiratella'' Korobkov, 1966 - synonym: ''Plotophysops'' Curry, 1982Cahuzac B. & Janssen A. W. (2010). "Eocene to Miocene holoplanktonic Mollusca (Gastropoda) of the Aquitaine Basin, southwest France". ''Scripta Geologica'' 141: http://www.scriptageologica.nl/10/nr141/a01 ** † ''A. elongatoidea'' (Aldrich, 1887) - type species of the genus ''Altaspiratella'' ** † ''A. bearnensis'' (Curry, 1982) ** † ''A. multispira'' (Curry, 1982) * '' Currylimacina'' Janssen, 2003Janssen A. W. (2003). "Notes on the systematics, morphology and biostratigraphy of fossil holoplanktonic Mollusca, 13. Considerations on a subdivision of Thec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Opisthobranch
Opisthobranchs () is now an informal name for a large and diverse group of specialized complex gastropods which used to be united in the subclass Opisthobranchia. That taxon is no longer considered to represent a monophyletic grouping. Euopisthobranchia is a taxon containing a revised collection of opisthobranchs, and that taxon is considered monophyletic. Euopisthobranchia does not include some "traditional" opisthobranchs such as the Sacoglossa and the Acochlidiacea. The subclass Heterobranchia now contains all the species which used to be assigned to Opisthobranchia, plus all the species in the Pulmonata. The subclass Opisthobranchia included species in the order Cephalaspidea (bubble shells and headshield slugs), the sacoglossans, anaspidean sea hares, pelagic sea angels, sea butterflies, and many families of the Nudibranchia. ''Opisthobranch'' means "gills behind" (and to the right) of the heart. In contrast, ''Prosobranch'' means ''gills in front'' (of the heart). Opist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cavoliniidae
The family Cavoliniidae is a taxonomic group of small floating sea snails, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.Gofas, S. (2011). Cavoliniidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23000 on 30 April 2011 This family is part of a larger group which is commonly known as the sea butterflies because they swim by flapping what appear to be small "wings". Distribution This family of sea butterflies are circumglobal, carried by the sea currents to all the seas of the world. Habitat Cavoliniids prefer deep waters, from 100 m down to 2,000 m. They do best in warm oceanic water. Life habits Towards the anterior end of the animal, two parapodia (winglike flat lobules) protrude between each half of the shell. The parapodia enable these sea butterflies to float along in the water currents, using slow flapping movements. The parapodia are also covered with cilia, which produce a minute water current t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Creseidae
Creseidae is a family of gastropods belonging to the order Pteropoda Pteropoda (common name pteropods, from the Greek meaning "wing-foot") are specialized free-swimming pelagic sea snails and sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropods. Most live in the top 10 m of the ocean and are less than 1 cm long. The monop .... Genera: * '' Boasia'' Dall, 1889 * † '' Bovicornu'' Meyer, 1886 * † '' Bowdenatheca'' R. L. Collins, 1934 † * † '' Bucanoides'' Hodgkinson, 1992 * † '' Camptoceratops'' Wenz, 1923 * † '' Cheilospicata'' Hodgkinson, 1992 * '' Creseis'' Rang, 1828 * † '' Euchilotheca'' Fischer, 1882 * † '' Loxobidens'' Hodgkinson, 1992 * '' Styliola'' Gray, 1847 * † '' Thecopsella'' Munier-Chalmas, 1888 * '' Tibiella'' Meyer, 1884 References * Rampal J. (1973). Phylogénie des Ptéropodes Thécosomes d'après la structure de la coquille et la morphologie du manteau. Comptes Rendus des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences de Paris. ser. D, 277: 1345–1348. * Je ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peraclididae
Cymbulioidea is a taxonomic superfamily of pelagic "sea butterflies", one group of swimming sea snails. They are holoplanktonic opisthobranch gastropod molluscs in the clade Thecosomata. Anatomy Some groups within this superfamily possess a shell in the adult stage, some are without a shell in the adult stage, and others have developed a relatively tough gelatinous, cartilaginous internal structure, a sort of fake shell called the pseudoconch. The lateral and posterior foot lobes are joined as a ciliated proboscis that leads to the mouth, and the wings are united ventrally to form a single plate. A more general description is given under the entry sea butterfly. Taxonomy The group was originally referred to as the Pseudothecosomata Meisenheimer, 1905, although this name is invalid under the ICZN and thus is no longer recognized. Instead its three families are categorized within the superfamily Cymbulioidea, which is itself part of the clade Thecosomata. The superfa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Praecuvierinidae
The Praecuvierinidae are a family of extinct, small, floating sea snails, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cavolinioidea. Genera * Genus '' Praecuvierina'' Janssen, 2005 ** '' Praecuvierina lura'' (Hodgkinson, in Hodgkinson, Garvie & Bé, 1992) - from Eocene, Lutetian of the United States * Genus '' Texacuvierina'' Janssen, 2005 ** '' Texacuvierina gutta'' (Hodgkinson, in Hodgkinson, Garvie & Bé, 1992) - from Eocene, Bartonian The Bartonian is, in the ICS's geologic time scale, a stage or age in the middle Eocene Epoch or Series. The Bartonian Age spans the time between . It is preceded by the Lutetian and is followed by the Priabonian Age. Stratigraphic defini ... of the United States References {{Taxonbar, from=Q7237511 Cavolinioidea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sea Snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the absence of a visible shell. Definition Determining whether some gastropods should be called sea snails is not always easy. Some species that live in brackish water (such as certain neritids) can be listed as either freshwater snails or marine snails, and some species that live at or just above the high tide level (for example species in the genus '' Truncatella'') are sometimes considered to be sea snails and sometimes listed as land snails. Anatomy Sea snails are a very large group of animals and a very diverse one. Most snails that live in salt water respire using a gill or gills; a few species, though, have a lung, are intertidal, and are active only at low tide when they can move around in the air. These air-breathing species includ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parapodia
In invertebrates, the term parapodium ( Gr. ''para'', beyond or beside + ''podia'', feet; plural: parapodia) refers to lateral outgrowths or protrusions from the body. Parapodia are predominantly found in annelids, where they are paired, unjointed lateral outgrowths that bear the chaetae. In several groups of sea snails and sea slugs, 'parapodium' refers to lateral fleshy protrusions. __TOC__ Annelid parapodia Most species of polychaete annelids have paired, fleshy parapodia which are segmentally arranged along the body axis. Parapodia vary greatly in size and form, reflecting a variety of functions, such as gas exchange, anchorage, protection and locomotion. General description Parapodia in polychaetes can be uniramous (consisting of one lobe or ramus) but are usually biramous (two lobes or rami). In the latter case, the dorsal lobes are called notopodia and the ventral lobes neuropodia. Both neuropodia and notopodia may possess a bundle of chaetae (neurochaetae and notochaet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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