The veliger is the characteristic larva of the gastropod, bivalve and scaphopod taxonomic classes. It is produced following either the embryonic or trochophore larval stage of development. The velum and foot of the veliger can be retracted into the shell to protect these structures from predators or mechanical damage.
Why did nudibranchs lose their shells?
Why do nudibranchs lose their shell? There is much debate about this, but what we do know is that the loss of the shell gave the Sea Slugs the opportunity to experiment with all sorts of body shapes and to experiment with the brilliant and spectacular colour patterns for which they are so well known.
What is a nudibranch in biology?
Nudibranchs (/ˈnjuːdɪbræŋk/) are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. The word “nudibranch” comes from the Latin nudus “naked” and the Ancient Greek βράγχια (bránkhia) “gills”.
What is the meaning of Veliger?
veliger. / (ˈvɛlɪdʒə) / noun. the free-swimming larva of many molluscs, having a rudimentary shell and a ciliated velum used for feeding and locomotion.
What is the larval form of Arthropoda?
Selected types of larvae
| Animal | Name of larvae |
|---|---|
| Arthropoda: Xiphosura | euproöps larva (“trilobite larva”) |
| Arthropoda: Pycnogonida | protonymphon |
| Crustaceans | General: nauplius, metanauplius, protozoea, antizoea, pseudozoea, zoea, postlarva, cypris, primary larva, mysis Decapoda: zoea Rhizocephala: kentrogon |
What is meant by trochophore larva?
trochophore, also called trochosphere, small, translucent, free-swimming larva characteristic of marine annelids and most groups of mollusks. Trochophores are spherical or pear-shaped and are girdled by a ring of cilia (minute hairlike structures), the prototroch, that enables them to swim.
Can nudibranchs survive out of water?
In the case of nudibranchs with a thin skin, which is also used for gas exchange, they can remain alive for some hours as long as they remain damp.
What is special about nudibranch?
Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs. Some are known for their extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given fun nicknames to match, such as “sea goddess”, “splendid”, “dragon”, “painted” or ‘dancer” just to name a few.
What is a nudibranch natural habitat?
They are found throughout the world’s oceans, but are most abundant in shallow, tropical waters. Their scientific name, Nudibranchia, means naked gills, and describes the feathery gills and horns that most wear on their backs.
What is a nudibranch and what is special about it?
Which phylum does Trochophore larva belong to?
phylum annelida
They are triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical and segmented Metazoa. Some of the annelids belong to the Lophotrochozoa lineage. Trochophore larva occurs in phylum annelida.
What is the classification of nudibranchs?
Traditionally, nudibranchs have been treated as the order Nudibranchia, located in the gastropod mollusc subclass Opisthobranchia (the marine slugs: which consisted of nudibranchs, sidegill slugs, bubble snails, algae sap-sucking sea slugs, and sea hares).
How do nudibranchs get their nematocysts?
Nudibranchs that feed on hydrozoids can store the hydrozoids’ nematocysts (stinging cells) in the dorsal body wall, the cerata. These stolen nematocysts, called kleptocnidae, wander through the alimentary tract without harming the nudibranch.
Do nudibranchs live in saltwater or freshwater?
They are almost entirely restricted to salt water, although a few species are known to inhabit lower salinities in brackish water. Nudibranchs live at virtually all depths, from the intertidal zone to depths well over 700 m (2,300 ft).
Are sea slugs and nudibranchs the same thing?
A number of these other sea slugs, such as the photosynthetic Sacoglossa and the colourful Aglajidae, are often confused with nudibranchs. Nudibranchs occur in seas worldwide, ranging from the Arctic, through temperate and tropical regions, to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
