Rhodopidae

The Rhodopidae are a family of worm -like worm, which is to provide probably the nudibranchs ( Nudibranchia ). These snails were counted initially due to the worm-like habit of the Turbellaria ( Turbellaria ).

Features

The body is elongated and flattened; the length is extended about 1.5 mm ( Rhodope roskoi ) to about 6 mm ( Rhodope veranii ). However, animals can contract very strong when they are disturbed. The head region is offset slightly and slightly narrowed towards the body. The otherwise molluskentypisch stepped foot is completely absent. At the rear end of the body there is a Anheftdrüse. Jaw, radula, gill and heart are also missing. The eyes are deeply embedded in the head area; there are also paired Statozysten. In the body into storage are elongated, slightly curved spicules with blunt ends. They measure 70-170 microns in length. The length however, differs from species to species, as well as the curvature. The base color of the body is pale yellowish to white with orange red belts, circles or stripes. The color patterns are both typical.

Lifestyle and deposits

Very little is known about the habits of these animals. The few live observations and findings date back some of tropical aquariums, where the animals were accidentally introduced. The origin is not possible to identify such animals. The animals live in the interstitial sand and gravel soils, shell Schill, or even in dark areas of the Phytals in shallow sea - tides to areas of temperate to tropical seas. The genus is distributed worldwide. R. veranii eats sponge larvae. Unlike Turbellaria their locomotion is described as slow.

System

The systematic position of the very small family Rhodopidae between vortex worms and molluscs was over 100 years highly controversial. Today the membership is at least secured to the screws, although the position within the auger remains somewhat uncertain. In more recent work, a relationship with the family Dorididae the Nudibranch ( Nudibranchia ) is favored. Boucot and Rocroi (2005 ) suggests that the superfamily membership within the nudibranchs open, McDonald, the family of the superfamily Anadoridoidea Odhner, 1968. Currently, only three genera with six species are known. A species that has been assigned to the genus Rhodope is excluded from Haszprunar and Hess in the genus Rhodope, but not assigned to a different genus.

• Rhodope Koelliker, 1847 Rhodope veranii Koelliker, 1847
• Rhodope transtrosa Salvini - Plawen, 1991
• Rhodope marcusi Salvini - Plawen, 1991
• Rhodope roskoi Haszprunar & Hess, 2005

• Helminthope psammobionta Salvini - Plawen, 1991

• Rhodoplana vandelii Vayssière, 1906

• " Rhodope " crucispiculata Salvini - Plawen, 1991