| Aeolidia papillosa | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Cladobranchia |
| Family: | Aeolidiidae |
| Genus: | Aeolidia |
| Species: | A. papillosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Aeolidia papillosa (Linnaeus, 1761) | |
Aeolidia papillosa, known as the common grey sea slug, is a species of nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae. [1]
This nudibranch species thrives in cold-temperate waters in the Northern Hemisphere on the Atlantic coast of The British Isles and Northern Europe, the Atlantic coast of North America, and the north Pacific Coast of North America. This species has recently been shown to have a more restricted distribution than previously thought, with animals from California, France and Chile being three other species. [2]
Aeolidia papillosa can be easily identified by its large number of cylindrical cerata covering its body except for a triangular area that extends from the rhinophores to the mid dorsum. The color is variable, usually with speckled darker markings in the head and back regions. To distinguish from different Aeolidia, A. papillosa has a distinct "V"- shaped pattern on the head of the animal that extends from one oral tentacle to its opposing pair tentacle. [3] Adult A. papillosa reach up to 120 mm in length. [4]
In the order of Nudibranchia, these 'sea slugs' are not considered marine worms but instead mollusks who lack a shell which is a main characteristic in classification. Nudibranchia exhibit bilateral symmetry in overall body structure as well as in gill feature.
Since they lack an outer shell, Nudibranchia exhibit a specialized epithelium that protects them from predation and attacks from prey. Located in the epithelium are several vacuoles that aid them in secretions. [5] The outside of the body is also covered with several cerata, singular ceras, that have numerous functions. This feature, from the Greek word "κέρας" means "horn", is often associated with the suborder aeolid nudibranch. These protrusions are filled with blood and cover the animal laterally and dorsally. Inside each ceras, there is a duct that connects to the digestive system as well as a sac called cnidosac that holds defensive stinging nematocysts it acquires from eating its prey cnidaria. The pigments of cerata are dependent on the color of the digestive gland which can change by diet in translucent species. [6]
Unlike other Aeolidida, the family Aeolidiidae possesses radular teeth which aid in feeding on their prey (See Fig. 2). [7] The radula is a feature in majority of mollusks located in the mouth, like a tongue, containing thousands of teeth that help cut up food for digestion by scraping against rocks or even
drilling holes in prey in some species. [8] This order is also classified by solid or circular columns of sensory tissues in the form of tentacles called rhinophores. In several groups of Nudibranchia, eyes can be located toward the bottom of these rhinophores which can entail possible homology of related ancestors. In internal organs, developing from the stomach is the intestine composing of a thick fold of tissue termed typhlosole which is plesiomorphic to Nudibranchia. In the superfamily Aeolidioidea, the typhlosole is present. The function of the typhlosole has not been determined, in some clades, it is possible that it aids in a secretion to help excretion of wastes or provides support in digestion of hard structures like sponge spicules.
The family Aeolidiidae, as well as other Nudibranchia families, are often studied for their adaptable defense from the stinging nematocyst discharge of Cnidarian sea anemones in particular Actinia, Anemonia, Metridium, Sagartia and Urticina. [9] Other food sources compose of zooxanthellae dinoflagellates which live in mutualistic relationship within the Nudibranch that provide nutrition in the tissues through photosynthesis. [7] A. papillosa participate in "ingestive conditioning" [10] in which they consume the nematocyst from their prey in response for predators in the same environment. [11]
Nematocysts are found in the epidermal mucus coat of several nudibranch families. The amount of inhibition ranges based on the different species of sea anemones preyed upon. By consuming distinct species, the outer mucous layer inhibition alters but if two separate prey species are constantly eaten, the mucous layer will inhibit for both species. [12] Anemones are also covered with a protective mucous layer [13] that is compositionally unique from the mucous layer that is produced by nudibranch species. [12] The thickness of the mucous layer ranges by the different families of Nudibranchia but members of Aeolidiidae express relatively thin layers which limit the amount microvilli-like activity possible by volume. [14]
In the order of Nudibranchia, all experience a hermaphroditic nature with complete male and female reproductive organs. For A. papillosa, self-fertilization is rare and predominantly reproduces by means of copulation. [15]
These sexual organs are in the form of openings located on the right side of the body. [3] Successful impregnation occurs when the penis of one releases sperm in packets around the mates vaginal opening which is in the shape of a cone. If sperm is not properly administered around the cone it will remain in the outside wall layer where it was penetrated for several days without correct fertilization. [16]
Spawning times range between January through August usually on harder substrate like rocks. This species of nudibranch shed their eggs in masses around 20 million offspring or more. [3] Egg shape is arranged in a spiral pattern in its own capsule and color ranges from white to pink (See Fig. 1). [17] Egg composition arranges in two equivalent layers which can be detected by electron micrographs. [18]
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," "dragon," or "sea rabbit." Currently, about 3,000 valid species of nudibranchs are known.
Cerata, singular ceras, are anatomical structures found externally in nudibranch sea slugs, especially in aeolid nudibranchs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the clade Aeolidida. The word ceras comes from the Greek word "κέρας", meaning "horn", a reference to the shape of these structures.
The white-edged nudibranch, Fjordia capensis, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch, a very colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.
Pteraeolidia ianthina is a sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Facelinidae. It is known as a blue dragon, a name it shares with Glaucus atlanticus and Glaucus marginatus.
Berghia is a genus of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs. They are shell-less marine gastropod molluscs in the family Aeolidiidae. They are covered in cerata which give them their unique tentacle look and color. Berghia are commonly found in shallow waters and their diet consists of strictly Aiptasia Anemone. This genus is now commonly used commercially to fight off Anemone populations in fish tanks.
Coryphella verrucosa, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae. It is found on either side of the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
A cnidosac is an anatomical feature that is found in the group of sea slugs known as aeolid nudibranchs, a clade of marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. A cnidosac contains cnidocytes, stinging cells that are also known as cnidoblasts or nematocysts. These stinging cells are not made by the nudibranch, but by the species that it feeds upon. However, once the nudibranch is armed with these stinging cells, they are used in its own defense.
Anteaeolidiella saldanhensis, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Anteaeolidiella fijensis, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Anteaeolidiella ireneae is a species of sea slugs, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Anteaeolidiella poshitra, is a species of sea slugs, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Anteaeolidiella lurana, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Anteaeolidiella oliviae, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Berghia stephanieae is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae. It was previously known as Aeolidiella stephanieae.
Spurilla neapolitana, the Neapolitan spurilla, is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Aeolidiidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This species was first described as Eolis neapolitana by the Italian naturalist Stefano delle Chiaje in 1841. However, although some authorities quote the year as 1823, the species does not appear in the first volume of delle Chiaje's memoirs, which was published that year. The species was later reassigned to the genus Spurilla.
Cerberilla mosslandica is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine heterobranch mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae.
Aeolidiella alderi is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch in the family Aeolidiidae. It is native to northwestern Europe where it occurs in the intertidal zone. It is a predator and feeds on sea anemones.
Aeolidia loui is a species of sea slugs, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae. It has been regarded as the same species as the NE Atlantic Aeolidia papillosa but is now known to be a distinct species. Common names include shaggy mouse nudibranch, and shag-rug nudibranch.
Aeolidia filomenae is a species of sea slugs, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Aeolidiidae. Previously confused with Aeolidia papillosa, this species occurs on coasts of the NE Atlantic Ocean from Scotland south to Portugal.
Dondice occidentalis is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Facelinidae.
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