Cnidosac
Acnidosacis ananatomicalfeature that is found in the group ofsea slugsknown as aeolidnudibranchs,a clade ofmarineopisthobranchgastropodmolluscs.[1]A cnidosac containscnidocytes,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.
Description and functions
[edit]The sea slugs within the nudibranch cladeAeolididahave protrudingcerata(singular "ceras" ) on their dorsal surface. At the tip of each ceras is a small sac in whichnematocysts(stinging cells) are stored. These nematocysts originate in thecnidarians(such assea anemones,hydroids,jellyfish,corals,siphonophores,etc.) that are the food source for aeolid nudibranchs.[2]
Example
[edit]
Glaucus atlanticusis a bluepelagicaeolid nudibranch. Individuals in this species can be dangerous for humans to handle; the cnidosacs ofG. atlanticusoften contain particularly powerful venomous stinging cells from one of its food species: the pelagicsiphonophoreknown as thePortuguese Man o' War,Physalia physalis.[3]
See also
[edit]- Diverticulum (mollusc),Diverticula are the outgrowths of the digestive gland within the cerata.
References
[edit]- ^Nudibranch.au website, Nudibranch Glossary, Definitions of terms relating to Opisthobranchs,[1]Accessed 2014-9-6
- ^Seaslugforum.net, Aeolid cnidosac,[2]Accessed 2014-10-30
- ^nhm.ac.uk, Natural History Museum, Nature online, Species of the day, Collections, Our collections,Glaucus atlanticus(blue sea slug),[3]Accessed 2014-10-30
External links
[edit]- Goodheart, Jessica A.; Bleidißel, Sabrina; Schillo, Dorothee; Strong, Ellen E.; Ayres, Daniel L.; Preisfeld, Angelika; Collins, Allen G.; Cummings, Michael P.; Wägele, Heike (2018-11-13)."Comparative morphology and evolution of the cnidosac in Cladobranchia (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia)".Frontiers in Zoology.15(1): 43.doi:10.1186/s12983-018-0289-2.ISSN1742-9994.PMC6234619.PMID30473719.