Clione antarctica

Clione antarctica is a species of "sea angel", a sea slug, a pelagic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Clionidae, the "sea angels".

Clione antarctica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Clade: Euopisthobranchia
Family: Clionidae
Genus: Clione
Species:
C. antarctica
Binomial name
Clione antarctica
(Smith, 1902)

Distribution

The distribution of Clione antarctica is within the Southern Hemisphere, in the polar waters of Antarctica.[1][2]

Description

The body length of this species is 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in).[3]

Ecology

Clione antarctica is an important component of polar ecosystems. It preys upon Limacina antarctica[1] It is itself eaten by the medusa Diplulmaris antarctica.[4] C. antarctica has a large lipid storage capacity: up to 5% of its wet mass.[5] It is able to survive without food for about six months by utilizing these lipid storage reserves.[5] Clione antarctica lays eggs in the spring.[5]

This species defends itself from predators by synthesizing an ichthyodeterrent (a chemical that deters fishes); this is a previously unknown molecule called pteroenone.[6] The sea angel acts as a "guest" for the hyperiid amphipod Hyperiella dilatata, which takes advantage of the protection provided by the gastropod's icthyodeterrent.[6]

References
  1. Whitehead, K.; Karentz, D.; Hedges, J. (2001). "Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in phytoplankton, a herbivorous pteropod (Limacina helicina), and its pteropod predator (Clione antarctica) in McMurdo Bay, Antarctica". Marine Biology. 139 (5): 1013. doi:10.1007/s002270100654.
  2. Rudman, W. B. (11 January 2006). "Clione antarctica (Smith, 1902)". Sea Slug Forum. accessed 2 February 2011.
  3. McClintock, J.B.; B.J. Baker, eds. (1997). Marine Chemical Ecology. CRC Press. p. 215. ISBN 0-8493-9064-8.
  4. Larson, R. J.; Harbison, G. R. (1990). "Medusae from Mcmurdo Sound, Ross Sea including the descriptions of two new species, Leuckartiara brownei and Benthocodon hyalinus". Polar Biology. 11. doi:10.1007/BF00236517.
  5. Seibel, B. A.; Dierssen, H. M. (2003). "Cascading trophic impacts of reduced biomass in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: Just the tip of the iceberg?". The Biological Bulletin. 205 (2): 93–97. doi:10.2307/1543229. JSTOR 1543229. PMID 14583506..
  6. Yoshida, W. Y.; Bryan, P. J.; Baker, B. J.; McClintock, J. B. (1995). "Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 60 (3): 780. doi:10.1021/jo00108a057.
  • Bryan P. J., Yoshida W. Y., McClintock J. B. & Baker B. J. (1995). "Ecological role for pteroenone, a novel antifeedant from the conspicuous antarctic pteropod Clione antarctica (Gymnosomata: Gastropoda)". Marine Biology 122: 271-277.
  • Gilmer R. W. & Lalli C. M. (1990). "Bipolar variation in Clione, a gymnosomatous pteropod". Am. Malacol. Union Bull. 8(1): 67-75.
  • Nakamura, Y.; Kiyota, H.; Baker, B. J.; Kuwahara, S. (2005). "First Synthesis of (+)-Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". ChemInform. 36 (32). doi:10.1002/chin.200532193.
  • Yoshida, W. Y.; Bryan, P. J.; Baker, B. J.; McClintock, J. B. (2010). "ChemInform Abstract: Pteroenone: A Defensive Metabolite of the Abducted Antarctic Pteropod Clione antarctica". ChemInform. 26 (29): no. doi:10.1002/chin.199529325.
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