Cavolinia uncinata (Rang, 1829a) subsp. pulsatapusilla Van der Spoel, 1971a forma pulsatapusilla Van der Spoel, 1971a

Overview

This is for this species a relative small, uncoiled thecosomatous pteropod, 0.6 cm long. It has a flat dorsal side with moderately developed ribs. There is no band at the base of the ventral lip. The caudal spine is curved and long. The ventral side is flat. Shell sculpture consists of faint growth lines and a transverse striation near the aperture. The shell surface shows a strongly hammered structure. The dorsal lip curves over the aperture. Micro-zooplankton and phytoplankton are its food and it is a mucus feeder. It lives in the Red Sea, at shallow and moderate depths (Cavolinia u.p. pulsatapusilla).

Taxonomic Description

Besides the small size, the most typical characters are the long caudal spine which is curved dorsally, the flat dorsal surface and the five less developed dorsal ribs. The lateral spines are directed caudad and the line between the tips of caudal and lateral spines is not regularly curved, but shows a straight middle section.
The shell length is 6.1 mm its width is 4.9 mm.

Juveniles

A special description is not available.

Reproduction

This forma is a protandric hermaphrodite.

Ecology

This forma is phytophagous.

Distribution

This forma is restricted to the central and southern Red Sea, see the Cavolinia u.p. pulsatapusilla map.

Geological Record

This species is known from the Holocene of the Red Sea but probably occurred already in the Riss Glacial.

Types

Cavolinia uncinata pulsatapusilla forma pulsatapusilla Van der Spoel, 1971a: 11, fig. 11.
Holotype: DZTU (dry collection). Paratype: DZTU 12 spec. (dry collection), ZMAN 4 spec. (dry collection).
Type locality: Hawakil Bay 15°18'N 40°23'E. Col.; ISRSE 65-3555 Dr. Ch. Lewinshon.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Euthyneura
Order Thecosomata
Suborder Euthecosomata
Family Cavoliniidae
Subfamily Cavoliniinae
Genus Cavolinia
Species Cavolinia uncinata
Subspecies Cavolinia uncinata pulsatapusilla
Forma pulsatapusilla

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Cavolinia uncinata (Rang, 1829a) subsp. pulsatapusilla Van der Spoel, 1971a forma pulsatapusilla Van der Spoel, 1971 a

Synonyms

Cavolinia uncinata pulsatapusilla forma pulsatapusilla n. forma Van der Spoel, 1971a: 11
Cavolinia uncinata part Rampal, 1973a: 517

Almogi-Labin, A., 1982. Stratigraphic and paleoceanographic significance of Late Quaternary pteropods from deep-sea cores in the Gulf of Aqaba (Elat) and northernmost Red Sea. Marine Micropal. 7(1): 53-72.

Mienis, H. K., 1977. Additional notes on shell-bearing pelagic gastropods of the Guld of Eilat. Levantina. Malac. Newsl. 8: 77.

Rampal, J., 1973a. Clés de détermination des ptéropodes thécosomes de Méditerranée et de l'Atlantique euroafricain. Rev. Trav. Inst. Pàches Marit. (Paris) 37(3): 369-381.

Rampal, J., 1980a. Biogeographie Méditerranéne d'apres l'etude des Thécosome (Mollusques pelagiques). J. Etud. Syst. Biogeogr. Médit Cagliari CIESM: 45-54.

Rampal, J., 1985a. Distribution des Mollusques Thécosome en mer Rouge Meridionale. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 29 (9): 265-267.

Turekian, K. K., Katz, A. and Chan, L., 1973. Trace element trapping in pteropod tests. Limn. Oceanogr. 18(2): 240-249.

Spoel, S. van der, 1971a. New forms of Diacria quadridentata (de Blainville, 1821), Cavolinia longirostris (de Blainville, 1821) and Cavolinia uncinata (Rang, 1829) from the Red Sea and the East Pacific Ocean (Mollusca, Pteropoda). Beaufortia 19 (243): 1-20.

Spoel, S. van der, 1976c. Pseudothecosomata, Gymnosomata and Heteropoda. Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, Utrecht. 484 pp. 246 figs.

Yaron, I., 1977. A preliminary list of the shell-bearing pelagic gastropods of the Gulf of Eilat. Levantina Malac. Newsl. 8: 75-77.

No distribution map was available at OBIS the last time we checked. Retry now.

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