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
editThe 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
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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
edit- Diverticulum (mollusc), Diverticula are the outgrowths of the digestive gland within the cerata.
References
edit- ^ Nudibranch.com.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. ISSN 1742-9994. PMC 6234619. PMID 30473719.