Melanochlamys cylindrica is a species of bubble snail in the family Aglajidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.[2]
| Melanochlamys cylindrica | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Pahurehure Inlet near Auckland | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Cephalaspidea |
| Family: | Aglajidae |
| Genus: | Melanochlamys |
| Species: | M. cylindrica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Melanochlamys cylindrica Thomas Cheeseman, 1881[1]
| |
Distribution and habitat edit
M. cylindrica is found on the coast of New Zealand's North and South Islands. It is absent from the Three Kings Islands/Manawatāwhi due to a lack of suitable habitat.[3]
Description edit
Adults are between 15 and 25 mm in length but may reach a maximum size of 30 mm.[3] Body is long and cylindrical in shape with a uniformly black colour that may feature an iridescent blue sheen.[4] The head shield is rounded with an indentation that may resemble two 'tails'.[3] The parapodia are small and held tightly against sides of body.[3] A large muscular mouth part (known as the buccal bulb) is contained in the anterior half of the body cavity.[4]
Shell edit
This species has a smaller than usual internal shell that is 6 mm long and 5 mm wide. The shell is ear-shaped without formed whorls. It is heavily calcified and contained within the posterior part of the body.[5][6]
Behaviour and diet edit
M. cylindrica is most commonly found in the mid-intertidal zone in algal turf and on rock platforms.[4] It may also be found down in shallow sub-tidal area.[3]
It feeds on polychaete worms including bristle worms and round worms by "rapidly sucking them in like a piece of spaghetti" which are then broken apart by a muscular gizzard.[3][4]
References edit
- ^ Cheeseman, T. F. (1881). "On a new genus of opisthobranchiate Mollusca". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 13: 224. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q115566365.
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Melanochlamys Cheeseman, 1881". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ a b c d e f "Super Sea Slugs". NIWA. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ a b c d Rudman, W. B. (2010-07-15). "The Sea Slug Forum - Melanochlamys cylindrica". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ "NZ Mollusca - Melanochlamys cylindrica". www.mollusca.co.nz. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ Shell of Melanochlamys cylindrica, Bill Rudman (2010-06-09). "The Sea Slug Forum - Melanochlamys cylindrica". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. pp 196–219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch
External links edit
- Spencer H.G., Willan R.C., Marshall B.A. & Murray T.J. (2011). Checklist of the Recent Mollusca Recorded from the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone
- Zamora-Silva A. & Malaquias M.A.E. (2018 [nomenclatural availability: 2017]). Molecular phylogeny of the Aglajidae head-shield sea slugs (Heterobranchia: Cephalaspidea): new evolutionary lineages revealed and proposal of a new classification. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183(1): 1-51