Crepidula badisparsa

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Crepidula badisparsa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Calyptraeidae
Genus: Crepidula
Species:
C. badisparsa
Binomial name
Crepidula badisparsa
Collin, 2005 [1]

Crepidula badisparsa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Contents

It is a small species with flecks of tan and dark brown on the shell. It lives attached to other small gastropods in seagrass beds. This species is unusual in that in produces lecithotrophic larvae which hatch as large pediveligers. They swim for a short while before settling.

This species is currently found only in Panama.

Background

The marine gastropod species, Crepidula badisparsa, is a part of the family Calyptraeidae and is one of the many species of slipper snails found off the coasts of Panama. The species' name comes from the Latin word "Badisparsa," which means scattered, referring to spots on the snail’s shell. [2] They are also referred to as “Baby’s boats,” “Quarter-deck shells,” and “Lady’s slippers.” [3] They are known for their plastic shells and simple and conservative anatomy. [2]

Distribution

Crepidula badisparsa is currently only found on the Atlantic Coast of Panama at depths between 1-2m, in shallow seagrass beds. [2]   Specifically, they have been found in Bocas del Toro Province, Cativa (Coco Solo), and Limon Bay, Panama. [2] Other species of Crepidula have been found by themselves or attached to other snails, but further research is needed to determine whether Crepidula badisparsa live attached to other snails as well. [4]

Due to its limited habitat range and location, little research has been done on Crepidula badisparsa’s ecological role within its habitat. [2]

Description

Crepidula badisparsa are small snails, with a maximum shell length of 13mm. Their shells are mainly white, with at least 50% covered in flecks and streaks of tan and dark brown. [2] Snails in the family Crepidula have an expanded foot and a limpet-shaped shell. [5] Their shells also lack muscle scars, and the shape of the individual's shell is determined by the substrate. [2] Their shells also have a flat-shaped “shelf” that extends on the underside of the snail’s shell and houses the internal organs. [5] Slipper snails like Crepidula have a posterior apex to their flattened shells and a slight lateral curve. [6] Adult Crepidula badisparsa lack an operculum, a hard sheet that can be attached to the bottom of the snail's foot to plug the aperture. [7] Crepidula badisparsa have splotches of yellow and cream on its tentacles, lips, and lappets on its neck. The back side of its head and neck are black and dark gray with black gills. [2] The shell is attached to the body by a shell muscle extending from the front right portion of the foot to where the shell and shelf meet. [2]

The taxonomy of Calyptraeidae is well recorded, as the similar morphological characteristics between individual species have made physical identification difficult. This has led to them becoming the subject of many biological and ecological studies, as the consistent taxonomic information makes them favorable subjects. [3]

Reproduction

Crepidula badisparsa reproduce sexually and exhibit protandrous hermaphroditism, meaning they are born male and develop into females as they grow. [3] They lay eggs in transparent capsules that are 286 μm in length. [2] Embryos receive nutrients solely from the yolk and develop vesicles near their heads, as well as an embryonic kidney on both sides of their body. [2] Further details regarding embryonic development and brood size are currently unknown, however, larvae have been observed to hatch as pediveligers with transparent shells around 515 μm in length. [2] Their intestines and velum are also transparent after hatching. [2] Development into pediveligers is unique to this species, as no other members of Crepidula have been observed doing this. [2]

Diet (feeding habits)

All Crepidula are filter feeders and feed mainly on phytoplankton. [3] An individual will use adjoining snails to lift itself off the substrate and then use its gills to create currents that trap phytoplankton. [3] Along with this technique, Crepidula are known to create a mucus net from their gills that catch and transport their food into their food pouch. [8] Crepidula also use their radula to transfer the food caught by the gills into the mouth. [8] Crepidula’s feeding occurs in salinities at or above 20 psu. [9]    

Related Research Articles

<i>Crepidula fornicata</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula fornicata is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup and saucer snails. It has many common names, including common slipper shell, common Atlantic slippersnail, boat shell, quarterdeck shell, fornicating slipper snail, Atlantic slipper limpet and it is in Britain as the "common slipper limpet".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calyptraeidae</span> Family of gastropods

The Calyptraeidae are a family of small to medium-sized marine prosobranch gastropods.

<i>Crepidula</i> Genus of gastropods

Crepidula, commonly known as the slipper snails, slipper limpets, or slipper shells, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae. This family includes the slipper snails (Crepidula), hat snails (Calyptraea), spiny slipper snails (Bostrycapulus), and cup-and-saucer snails (Crucibulum) as well as Crepipatella, Siphopatella, Grandicrepidula, and Maoricrypta.

<i>Crepidula onyx</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula onyx, the onyx slippersnail or onyx slipper snail, is a species of sea snail with gills, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup-and-saucer snails.

<i>Bostrycapulus</i> Genus of gastropods

Bostrycapulus, commonly known as the spiny slipper snails, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails, cup-and-saucer snails and hat snails.

<i>Crepipatella</i> Genus of gastropods

Crepipatella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup-and-saucer snails.

<i>Crepidula adunca</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula adunca, common name the "hooked slippersnail" is a species of sea snail or "slipper snail", a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails and cup-and-saucer snails.

Bostrycapulus odites is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Calyptraea chinensis</i> Species of gastropod

Calyptraea chinensis, common name the Chinese hat snail or Chinese hat shell, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula atrasolea is a species of small sea snail, a slipper snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails.

Crepidula cachimilla is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula carioca is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula convexa</i> Species of mollusc

Crepidula convexa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails. The maximum recorded shell length is 20 mm.

Crepidula depressa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails.

Crepidula margarita is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula moulinsii</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula moulinsii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese pant snails.

<i>Crepidula plana</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula plana, common name the eastern white slippersnail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and hat snails. This species is characterized by a flat white shell, a white body, and development that includes a planktotrophic larval stage. This species often occurs inside large gastropod shells that are inhabited by hermit crabs. In this case the shells are often extremely flat, and often recurved.

<i>Crepidula porcellana</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula porcellana, common name the slipper limpet, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

<i>Crepidula unguiformis</i> Species of gastropod

Crepidula unguiformis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

Crepidula ustulatulina is a species of small sea snail, a slipper snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calyptraeidae, the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.

References

  1. ↑ Collin, Rachel (2005). "Crepidula badisparsa sp. nov. (Gastropoda: Calyptraeidae) from Bocas del Toro Province, Panama". Caribbean Journal of Science 41(2): 269-276.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Collin, Rachel (2005). "Crepidula badisparsa sp. nov. (Gastropoda: Calyptraeidae) From Bocas Del Toro Province, Panama". Caribbean Journal of Science . 41 (2): 269–276.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lyons, Deirdre C.; Henry, Jonathan Q. (2022), "Slipper snail tales: How Crepidula fornicata and Crepidula atrasolea became model molluscs", Current Topics in Developmental Biology, vol. 147, Elsevier, pp. 375–399, doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.013, ISBN   978-0-12-820154-1, PMC   9187910 , PMID   35337456 , retrieved 2023-04-11
  4. ↑ Collins, Rachel; Wonham, Marjorie J.; Barr, Kelly R. (2006). "Crepidula convexa Say 1822 (Caenogastropoda: Calyptraeidae) in Washington State, U.S.A.". American Malacological Bulletin: 113–116.
  5. 1 2 Henry, Jonathan J.; Collin, Rachel; Perry, Kimberly J. (2010). "The Slipper Snail, Crepidula : An Emerging Lophotrochozoan Model System". The Biological Bulletin. 218 (3): 211–229. doi:10.1086/BBLv218n3p211. ISSN   0006-3185.
  6. ↑ Collin, R.; Cipriani, R. (2003-12-22). "Dollo's law and the re–evolution of shell coiling". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 270 (1533): 2551–2555. doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2517. ISSN   0962-8452. PMC   1691546 . PMID   14728776.
  7. ↑ Xu, Xiaoyan; Wu, Jianing; Wang, Kai; Yang, Yunqiang; Yan, Shaoze (2019-03-07). "Locking of the operculum in a water snail: Theoretical modeling and applications for mechanical sealing". Journal of Theoretical Biology. 464: 104–111. doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.12.036. ISSN   0022-5193.
  8. 1 2 Chaparro, Or; Thompson, Rj; Pereda, Sv (2002). "Feeding mechanisms in the gastropod Crepidula fecunda". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 234: 171–181. doi: 10.3354/meps234171 . ISSN   0171-8630.
  9. ↑ Chaparro, O. R.; Montiel, Y. A.; Segura, C. J.; Cubillos, V. M.; Thompson, R. J.; Navarro, J. M. (2008-03-01). "The effect of salinity on clearance rate in the suspension-feeding estuarine gastropod Crepipatella dilatata under natural and controlled conditions". Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 76 (4): 861–868. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2007.08.014. ISSN   0272-7714.


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