Pteraeolidia ianthina
Encyclopedia
Pteraeolidia ianthina is a species
of sea slug
, an aeolid nudibranch
, a marine
gastropod mollusc in the family
Glaucidae
.
, from Hawaii
to the Philippines
, to the Northeast Australian waters.
. The body color of this species is translucent tan but the cerata
, which varies from dark purple to lavender to golden brown, gives the nudibranch
most of its distinct color. The slug is very elongated with medium-large sized cerata along the length of the body. The cephalic tentacles have at least two dark purple bands that stand out. Young specimens, however, are much shorter, have fewer cerata, and are often mistaken for other nudibranchs.
s 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.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
, an aeolid nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
, a marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusc in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Glaucidae
Glaucidae
Glaucidae is a taxonomic family of colorful sea slugs. These are specifically aeolid nudibranchs. They are marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Aeolidioidea.-Genera and species:Genera and species within the family Glaucidae include:...
.
Distribution
This slug is found throughout Southwestern Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, to the Northeast Australian waters.
Description
Pteraeolidia ianthina is mainly called a "blue dragon" by Eastern Australian divers because of its close resemblance to a Chinese dragonChinese dragon
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs...
. The body color of this species is translucent tan but the cerata
Cerata
Cerata are anatomical structures found in nudibranch sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.They are dorsal and lateral outgrowths on the upper surfaces of the body....
, which varies from dark purple to lavender to golden brown, gives the nudibranch
Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade, and what was previously a suborder, of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms...
most of its distinct color. The slug is very elongated with medium-large sized cerata along the length of the body. The cephalic tentacles have at least two dark purple bands that stand out. Young specimens, however, are much shorter, have fewer cerata, and are often mistaken for other nudibranchs.
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 hydroidHydroid
-Marine biology:Hydroids are a life stage for most animals of class Hydrozoa, small predators related to jellyfish.-Botany:In mosses, hydroids form the innermost layer of the stem of long, colourless, thin walled cells of small diameter.The cells are dead and lack protoplasm.They function as water...
s 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
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
. The sugars are used by the slug.
Further reading
- Rudman, W. B.William B. RudmanDr. William B. Rudman, usually known as Bill Rudman , from New Zealand and Australia, is a biologist, a researcher who studies molluscs, in other words, a malacologist...
(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 HistoryJournal of Natural HistoryThe Journal of Natural History is a scientific journal published by Taylor & Francis focusing on entomology and zoology. The journal was established in 1841 under the name Annals and Magazine of Natural History and obtained its current title in 1967...
36(7): 831-882.
External links
- http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/pteriant