Detail of the aeolid nudibranch Flabellina aff. lineata showing the cnidosacs at the tips of the cerata.

A cnidosac is an anatomical feature that is found in the group of sea slugs known as aeolid nudibranchs, a clade of marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs.[1] A cnidosac contains cnidocytes, 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

The sea slugs within the nudibranch clade Aeolidida have protruding cerata (singular "ceras") on their dorsal surface. At the tip of each ceras is a small sac in which nematocysts (stinging cells) are stored. These nematocysts originate in the cnidarians (such as sea anemones, hydroids, jellyfish, corals, siphonophores, etc.) that are the food source for aeolid nudibranchs.[2]

Example

Glaucus atlanticus is the blue sea slug shown here out of water on a beach, and thus collapsed; however, touching the animal directly with your skin can result in a painful sting, with symptoms similar to those caused by the Portuguese man o' war

Glaucus atlanticus is a blue pelagic aeolid nudibranch. Individuals in this species can be dangerous for humans to handle; the cnidosacs of G. atlanticus often contain particularly powerful venomous stinging cells from one of its food species: the pelagic siphonophore known as the Portuguese Man o' War, Physalia physalis.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Nudibranch.com.au website, Nudibranch Glossary, Definitions of terms relating to Opisthobranchs, [1] Accessed 2014-9-6
  2. ^ Seaslugforum.net, Aeolid cnidosac, [2] Accessed 2014-10-30
  3. ^ 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

Gastropod anatomy
Category