| Akera Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| shells of Akera bullata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Aplysiida |
| Superfamily: | Akeroidea |
| Family: | Akeridae |
| Genus: | Akera O. F. Müller, 1776 [1] |
| Species | |
See text | |
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| Synonyms [2] | |
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Akera is a marine genus of sea hare in the family Akeridae, known from the late Callovian (Jurassic) to the recent periods. [2] [3]
Akera is the sole genus within the family Akeridae.
Akera is a primitive genus. Their soft and elongated body does not fit completely in their external shell; it just covers their visceral hump which is positioned at the posterior end of their bodies. Their streamlined bodies are adapted for burrowing.
The shell is large and glossy, globosely cylindrical with a paper-thin, translucent, and flexible texture that provides minimal protection. The spire is truncated, and the whorls are deeply channeled. The protoconch is partially embedded. The upper whorls are blunt. The aperture spans the length of the body whorl or is slightly shorter. It is expanded and deeply sinuated in front, with the outer margin disunited at the suture. The columella is exposed, revealing the inner whorls. The color of the shell is muted, ranging from pale brown to greenish hues.
The head-disc is greatly elongated, wide, and bifid anteriorly, tapering towards the rear. The mantle's hind edge is fimbriated and extends through the fissured shell suture. The foot is expanded and narrow with a rounded anterior end, becoming broad and truncated posteriorly. Using its extended lateral parapodia, the animal swims with considerable agility. [4]
Species of this marine genus have a global distribution including temperate and tropical seas, inhabiting soft muddy bottoms, sea grass beds and coral sand. They are herbivorous, feeding on algae and detritus.
Bulla is a genus of medium to large hermaphrodite sea snails, shelled marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. These herbivorous snails are in the suborder Cephalaspidea, headshield slugs, and the order Opisthobranchia.
Marginellidae, or the margin shells, are a taxonomic family of small, often colorful, sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Neogastropoda.
Scaphella is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Steromphala cineraria is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Euspira nitida, the common necklace shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.
Akera bullata, named the royal flush sea slug, is a species of sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Akeridae, a family that is related to the sea hares. This species is the only European representative of the genus Akera.
Citharomangelia pellucida is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Clavus exasperatus, common name the exasperating turrid, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Drilliidae.
Asperdaphne is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Raphitomidae.
Exomilus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Raphitomidae.
Pseudoliva is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pseudolividae.
Monilea is a genus of sea snails in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Toledonia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cylichnidae.
Retusa is a genus of very small head-shield sea snails or barrel-bubble snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Retusidae.
Genota is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Borsoniidae.
Akera bayeri is a species of sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Akeridae, a family that is related to the sea hares.
Akera julieae is a species of sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Akeridae, a family that is related to the sea hares.
Akera soluta is a species of sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Akeridae, a family that is related to the sea hares.
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