Summary
Physical Description
Size and Colouration
External Anatomy
Ecology
Local Distribution and Microhabitat
Life History & Behaviour
Reproduction
Development and Locomotion
Feeding and Respiration
Behavioural Observations
Anatomy & Physiology
Internal Anatomy
Histological Sectioning
Evolution & Systematics
Phylogeny and Kleptoplasty
Biogeographic Distribution
Conservation & Threats
References & Links
Reference List
Useful Links
Glossary | Glossary
Epifaunal: An animal living an epifaunal lifestyle lives on top of (rather than in) the sediment.
Gametolytic gland: A structure seen in most opisthobranchs that is known to uptake sperm for purposes other than reproduction.
Infaunal: An animal living an infaunal lifestyle lives within the sediment.
Kleptoplasty: The uptake of functional chloroplasts from algae by sea slugs for use within their own tissue. Unique to the sacoglossa.
Plesiomorphic: A plesiomorphic trait is one which is considered to be the ancestral trait. The term is often used when comparing groups.
Resorption: The process by which something is reabsorbed, for example in sacoglossans, sperm undergoes resorption for uses other than reproduction.
Spermatophores: External structures involved in the transfer of sperm seen in some opisthobranch species.
Torsion: A key developmental process in the gastropods where the mantle, visceral mass and shell are rotated 180° with respect to the location of the head, such that the anus and mantle cavity end up above the head. This occurs independently of the coiling of the shell in shelled species. Note that in the opisthobranchs complete or partial reversion ('detorsion') to the original position is common.
Vernier: A species that has a 'vernier' effect on an ecosystem can be considered to be the secondary or tertiary organism impacting upon the system, often having an impact that is less obvious short term, but clear in longer term views. A good example would be when looking at algal dominance and community structure; you would say that the primary grazing species would be the big grazers such as parrotfish, and you might consider the herbivorous sacoglossan species to be the secondary grazers, having a vernier impact on the ecosystem.
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