Aeolidiidae

Aeolidia papillosa

The Aeolidiidae are a family of thread worm in the subordination of the nudibranchs. These are mostly small to medium sized, exclusively marine shell-less snails that eat mainly sea anemones.

Features

Aeolidiidae the two movable die probes that are longer than the above in the head fitting smooth rhinophores. The back is covered with transverse rows of Cerata, in which as in other thread screw foothills of the midgut gland result, the portions corresponding to the same among the Cerata. The foothills end in S. G. Nettle bags, also called Cnidosäcke in which the nematocysts of cnidarians eaten are stored and serve the defense of the snails against predators.

The single-row radula has broad, comb-like teeth, in some species with an average score. The jaws have a smooth edge. The anus opens behind the front ranks of Cerata on the right side of the body, in which guide the foothills of the front left lobe of the digestive gland.

Like other thread snails are the hermaphrodites Aeolidiidae. You have a seminal unreinforced penis and two Receptacula. The snails copulate each other and lay their eggs in long Eischnüren from, in whose transparent cover you can see the number of eggs. From these hatch numerous veliger larvae, which feed on plankton and metamorphose after a long pelagic phase to nematode worm.

The Aeolidiidae eat cnidarians, especially sea anemones.

The Aeolidiidae are usually no longer than a few centimeters. The largest species is one of the occurring among other things, in the North Sea until about 10 cm Breitwarzige nudibranch ( Aeolidia papillosa ).

System

After Bouchet and Rocroi ( 2005), the family Aeolidiidae one of four families in the superfamily Aeolidioidea. This family includes twelve genera:

• Aeolidia Cuvier, 1797 - type genus
• Aeolidiella Bergh, 1867
• Aeolidiopsis Pruvot -Fol, 1956
• Anteaeolidiella M. C. Miller, 2001 Anteaeolidiella foulisi ( Angas, 1864)

• Baeolidia japonica
• Baeolidia major
• Baeolidia palythoae Gosliner, 1985

• Burnaia helicochorda

• Limenandra fusiform
• Limenandra nodosa

• Protaeolidiella atra
• Protaeolidiella juliae ( Burn, 1966)

The genus name Aeolis Menke, 1844 Eolidia Cuvier, 1816 and Eolis Cuvier, 1805, which can be found in older literature frequently, are synonyms of the older generic name Aeolidia Cuvier, 1797.