Hydromylidae

Hydromylidae
Animalia Mollusca Gastropoda Orthogastropoda Heterobranchia Opisthobranchia Gymnosomata Hydromylidae
Genus
Hydromyles

The small pelagic snails of the family Hydromylidae (Pruvot-Fol, 1942) lack a shell (except in their early embryonic stage).They are carnivores, equipped with swimming parapoda (fleshy, winglike outgrowths), strong jaws and grasping tentacles, often with suckers resembling those of cephalopods.

A more comprehensive discussion can be found under the entry Sea angel.

Genus Hydromyles Gistl, 1848

• Hydromyles globulosus (Rang, 1825)
  • Distribution: East Pacific, North America, Western Atlantic.
  • Description: this pteropod sizes its prey with its radula. Contrary to most gymnosomatiids, this peropod has no proboscis and no hooks. It is also unique by having, close to the anal aperture, a sac for hatching its eggs. The larvae develop in this sac and are born as fully developed snails.

Reference

• Martoja, M., 1965. Sur l'incubation et l'existence possible d'une glande endocrine, chez Hydromyles globulosa Rang (Halopsyche Gaudichaudi Keferstein), gastéropode gymnosome. -- C.R. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci. Paris, 260: 2907-2909.

External link

photo of Hydromyles globulosus