Peraclis michaelsarsi (Bonnevie, 1913)
[dubious species]

Overview

This is a pelagic snail with a left coiled shell, about 0.5 cm height; it has never been collected with shell intact so that a description cannot be given. The wings are fused into a swimming plate. This species lives usually at great depths in the Atlantic (see the holotype: Peraclis michaelsarsi).

Taxonomic Description

Tentacles symmetrical, without a sheath, the lips and footlobes form a trumpet-shaped proboscis. Wings are normally fused into a swimming disc. Central nervous system with separate abdominal ganglion. According to the original description the proboscis is more of the Cymbulia type, as the lateral and median lips are fused at the lateral points where they meet. However, their location in regards to body and head parts is the common Peraclis type. The radula formula is (1)-1-1-(1) (Peraclis michaelsarsi lateral). The intestine seems to be of type B as described for the Peraclis valdiviae.
Shell measurements are unknown, the maximum diameter of the swimming disc could not be measured.

Juveniles

The juveniles have a small left coiled shell. A special description is not available.

Reproduction

This species is a protandric hermaphrodite.

Ecology

This species is phytophagous and mesopelagic.

Distribution

If this is a valid species then the only record south of Iceland does not indicate its real distribution, however, if this species a synonym of Peraclis valdiviae its record indicates a more northern distribution in the Atlantic Ocean, see thePeraclis michaelsarsi map.

Types

Procymbulia michaelsarsi Bonnevie, 1913: 10, fig. 5, pl. 1, fig. 3.
Holotype (Peraclis michaelsarsi holotype): ZMVB 41046 (alcohol collection + I radula slide) u.s.
Type locality: 48°29'N 13°55'W. Coll.: CMSE, stat. 92.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Euthyneura
Order Thecosomata
Suborder Pseudothecosomata
Family Peraclididae
Genus Peraclis
Species Peraclis michaelsarsi

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Peraclis michaelsarsi (Bonnevie, 1913)


Synonyms

Procymbulia michaelsarsi n. sp. Bonnevie, 1913: 10
Peraclis michaelsarsi Van der Spoel, 1972b: 11

This species has only been found detached from its shell and was consequently referred to as Procymbulia though it belongs to the present genus. It may prove to be a synonym of an already known Peraclis species. The original description is fragmentary and no specimens other than the type material are known.

Bonnevie, K., 1913 (reprinted 1933). Pteropoda from the Michael Sars North-Atlantic Deep-Sea expedition. Rep. Sci. Res. 'Michael Sars' North Atl. Deep-Sea exp. 3(1): 1-69, 4 tabs, 58 figs, 9 pls.

Spoel, S. van der, 1972b. Pteropoda, Thecosomata. Cons. int. Expl. Mer. Zooplankton Sheet 140-142: 1-12.

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

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

You can continue searching for Peraclis michaelsarsi on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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