Cuthonella modesta

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Cuthonella modesta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked):clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
clade Dexiarchia
clade Cladobranchia
clade Aeolidida
Superfamily: Fionoidea
Family: Cuthonellidae
Genus: Cuthonella
Species:C. modesta
Binomial name
Cuthonella modesta
Eliot, 1907 [1]
Synonyms

Cuthonella modesta Eliot, 1907

Cuthonella modesta is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cuthonellidae. [2]

In biology, a species ( ) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. While these definitions may seem adequate, when looked at more closely they represent problematic species concepts. For example, the boundaries between closely related species become unclear with hybridisation, in a species complex of hundreds of similar microspecies, and in a ring species. Also, among organisms that reproduce only asexually, the concept of a reproductive species breaks down, and each clone is potentially a microspecies.

Sea slug group of marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs

Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are actually gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails that over evolutionary time have either completely lost their shells, or have seemingly lost their shells due to having a greatly reduced or internal shell. The name "sea slug" is most often applied to nudibranchs, as well as to a paraphyletic set of other marine gastropods without obvious shells.

Nudibranch order of molluscs

Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, such as "clown", "marigold", "splendid", "dancer", and "dragon". Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.

Distribution

This species was described from Hut Point, Ross Sea, Antarctica. It has been reported from McMurdo Sound. [3]

Ross Sea A deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica

The Ross Sea is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica, between Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land and within the Ross Embayment, and is the southernmost sea on Earth. It derives its name from the British explorer James Ross who visited this area in 1841. To the west of the sea lies Ross Island and Victoria Land, to the east Roosevelt Island and Edward VII Peninsula in Marie Byrd Land, while the southernmost part is covered by the Ross Ice Shelf, and is about 200 miles (320 km) from the South Pole. Its boundaries and area have been defined by the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research as having an area of 637,000 square kilometres (246,000 sq mi).

Antarctica Polar continent in the Earths southern hemisphere

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent. It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14,000,000 square kilometres, it is the fifth-largest continent. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 km in thickness, which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

McMurdo Sound landform

McMurdo Sound and its ice-clogged waters extends about 55 kilometres (34 mi) long and wide. The sound connects the Ross Sea to the north with the Ross Ice Shelf cavity to the south via Haskell Strait. The strait is largely covered by the McMurdo Ice Shelf. The Royal Society Range rises from sea level to 4,205 metres (13,796 ft) on the western shoreline. Ross Island, an historic jumping-off point for polar explorers, designates the eastern boundary. The active volcano Mount Erebus at 3,794 metres (12,448 ft) dominates Ross Island. Antarctica's largest scientific base, the United States' McMurdo Station, as well as the New Zealand Scott Base are on the southern shore of the island. Less than 10 percent of McMurdo Sound's shoreline is free of ice. It is the southernmost navigable body of water in the world.

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Eubranchidae family of molluscs

Eubranchidae is a taxonomic family of sea slugs, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Aeolidioidea, the aeolid nudibranchs.

Aeolidida parvorder of molluscs

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<i>Cuthonella concinna</i> species of mollusc

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Cuthonella cocoachroma is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cuthonellidae.

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Cuthonella is a genus of sea slugs, specifically aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cuthonellidae.

Cuthonella berghi is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cuthonellidae.

Cuthonella elenae is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cuthonellidae.

Cuthonella elioti is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cuthonellidae. It is a replacement name for Cuthonella antarctica Eliot, 1907.

Cuthona paradoxa is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tergipedidae.

Notaeolidia depressa is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Notaeolidiidae.

Notaeolidia gigas is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Notaeolidiidae.

Trinchesia macquariensis is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trinchesiidae.

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References

  1. ↑ Eliot, C. N. E. (1907). Mollusca. IV. Nudibranchiata. National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904. Natural History 2,Mollusca,IV:1-28, 1 pl.p.25.
  2. ↑ Gofas, S.; Bouchet, P. (2016). Cuthonella modesta Eliot, 1907. In: MolluscaBase (2016). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2016-12-22.
  3. ↑ Valdés Á., Moran A.L. & Woods H.A. (2012) Revision of several poorly known Antarctic aeolid nudibranch species (Mollusca: Gastropoda), with the description of a new species. Archived 2014-06-30 at the Wayback Machine . Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 92(5): 1161-1174.
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