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Clione limacina (Phipps, 1774) subsp. limacina (Phipps, 1774) forma meridionalis Pruvot-Fol, 1926

Overview

This is a naked pelagic snail, up to about 2 cm long, with a mainly transparent body that only shows orange/red colour in the tail, tentacles and mouth organs. The reddish brown visceral mass is seen through the body wall. The median footlobe is absent. It is a rather quick swimmer that hunts on shelled pteropods as food. It lives in the N-Atlantic usually in the somewhat deeper water layers (Clione l.l. meridionalis).

Taxonomic Description

Body rather small, no gills, the yellowish-red patches of gonad and visceral mass are less intense than in the forma limacina. The wings are of moderate size. The median footlobe is extremely small or absent, which distinguishes this forma from the others. The lateral footlobes are typically shaped. The visceral mass does not reach further posterior than 1/3 of the body length. The nuchal tentacles are well developed as are the three pairs of subequal cones. The radula formula varies between 6-1-6 and 9-1-9 (Clione l.l. meridionalis radula). Median plate with strongly dentated free border. No central cusp, but a central incision. There are about 15 to 20 hooks in the large and relatively deep hook sacs.
Body length up to 21 mm.

Juveniles

A special description is not available.

Reproduction

This form is a protandric hermaphrodite.

Ecology

This form is a carnivore, and usually deep living.

Distribution

This form is found in the N-Atlantic and Mediterranean, see also the paragraph distribution under Clione l.l. limacina and the Clione l.l. meridionalis map.

Types

Clione limacina var. meridionalis Pruvot-Fol, 1926: 23, pl. 2, figs. 55-59, pl. 3, fig. 99. Lectotype: MOM, dissected and originally figured (alcohol collection) 2). Paralectotype: MOM, dried out, 1 spec. (alcohol collection).
Type locality: 38°30'N 34°40'W and 38°58'N 44°55'W, Coh: CPAE, stat. 3526 and stat. 3518.

Clione limacina limacina meridionalis