Oxynoe panamensis

Oxynoe panamensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

Informal group Opisthobranchia
clade Sacoglossa
clade Oxynoacea
Superfamily: Oxynooidea
Family: Oxynoidae
Genus: Oxynoe
Species: O. panamensis
Binomial name
Oxynoe panamensis
Pilsbry & Olsson, 1943[1]

Oxynoe panamensis is a species of small sea snail or sea slug, a bubble snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Oxynoidae.

Contents

Distribution

Oxynoe panamensis is found in mangrove swamps along the Baja, California and Mexico coasts.[2] The type locality for this species is Bocas Islands, Panama.[3]

Life habits

This species feeds on Caulerpa sertularioides, a green siphonaceous algae. When irritated, Oxynoe panamensis excretes a potent, milky toxin from its skin.[2] There is known autotomy of the tail under persistent mechanical irritation.[2]

References

  1. ^ Pilsbry H. A. & Olsson A. (1943). "New marine mollusks from the west coast". Nautilus 56: 78-81. Described on pages 80-81, plate 8, figure 8-9.
  2. ^ a b c Lewin R. A. (1970). "Toxin secretion and tail autotomy by irritated Oxynoe panamensis (Opisthobranchiata: Sacoglossa)". Pacific Science 24: 356-358. PDF
  3. ^ Jensen K. R. (November 2007). "Biogeography of the Sacoglossa (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia)". Bonner zoologische Beiträge 55(2006)(3-4): 255–281.

External links