Clione antarctica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Clade: | Euopisthobranchia |
Order: | Pteropoda |
Family: | Clionidae |
Genus: | Clione |
Species: | C. antarctica |
Binomial name | |
Clione antarctica (Smith, 1902) |
Clione antarctica is a species of "sea angel", a sea slug, a pelagic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Clionidae, the "sea angels".
Distribution
The distribution of Clione antarctica is within the Southern Hemisphere, in the polar waters of Antarctica.
Description
The body length of this species is 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in).
Ecology
Clione antarctica is an important component of polar ecosystems. It preys upon Limacina antarctica It is itself eaten by the medusa Diplulmaris antarctica. C. antarctica has a large lipid storage capacity: up to 5% of its wet mass. It is able to survive without food for about six months by utilizing these lipid storage reserves. Clione antarctica lays eggs in the spring.
This species defends itself from predators by synthesizing an ichthyodeterrent (a chemical that deters fishes); this is a previously unknown molecule called pteroenone. The sea angel acts as a "guest" for the hyperiid amphipod Hyperiella dilatata, which takes advantage of the protection provided by the gastropod's icthyodeterrent.
References
- ^ Whitehead, K.; Karentz, D.; Hedges, J. (2001). "Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in phytoplankton, a herbivorous pteropod (Limacina helicina), and its pteropod predator (Clione antarctica) in McMurdo Bay, Antarctica". Marine Biology. 139 (5): 1013. doi:10.1007/s002270100654.
- Rudman, W. B. (11 January 2006). "Clione antarctica (Smith, 1902)". Sea Slug Forum. accessed 2 February 2011.
- McClintock, J.B.; B.J. Baker, eds. (1997). Marine Chemical Ecology. CRC Press. p. 215. ISBN 0-8493-9064-8.
- Larson, R. J.; Harbison, G. R. (1990). "Medusae from Mcmurdo Sound, Ross Sea including the descriptions of two new species, Leuckartiara brownei and Benthocodon hyalinus". Polar Biology. 11. doi:10.1007/BF00236517.
- ^ Seibel, B. A.; Dierssen, H. M. (2003). "Cascading trophic impacts of reduced biomass in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: Just the tip of the iceberg?". The Biological Bulletin. 205 (2): 93–97. doi:10.2307/1543229. JSTOR 1543229. PMID 14583506..
- ^ Yoshida, W. Y.; Bryan, P. J.; Baker, B. J.; McClintock, J. B. (1995). "Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 60 (3): 780. doi:10.1021/jo00108a057.
External links
- Bryan P. J., Yoshida W. Y., McClintock J. B. & Baker B. J. (1995). "Ecological role for pteroenone, a novel antifeedant from the conspicuous antarctic pteropod Clione antarctica (Gymnosomata: Gastropoda)". Marine Biology 122: 271-277.
- Gilmer R. W. & Lalli C. M. (1990). "Bipolar variation in Clione, a gymnosomatous pteropod". Am. Malacol. Union Bull. 8(1): 67-75.
- Nakamura, Y.; Kiyota, H.; Baker, B. J.; Kuwahara, S. (2005). "First Synthesis of (+)-Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". ChemInform. 36 (32). doi:10.1002/chin.200532193.
- Yoshida, W. Y.; Bryan, P. J.; Baker, B. J.; McClintock, J. B. (2010). "ChemInform Abstract: Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". ChemInform. 26 (29): no. doi:10.1002/chin.199529325.
Taxon identifiers | |
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Clione antarctica |