Aquascope Facts
Naked sea butterfly
Sp. Clione


Naked sea butterfly without shell

Distribution
Distribution in scandinavian waters
Maximum length: 4 cm. Compare with a finger.
Appearance: Naked sea butterflies resemble angels. It has a long spool-formed body that is blueish and transparent with pink to red-yellow areas. The shell is absent. The head is well developed and clearly evident because of an indentation on the upper part of the body. The body has robust flaps (mantel lobes) that are used for propulsion.
Depth: From sea level to unknown depth.
Environment: Pelagic.
Misc: Naked sea butterflies of the clione species are found mostly during the autumn and winter. It is a predator and as an adult preys upon copepods and the shell furnished limacina-naked sea butterfly. The young eat amongst other things alga plankton.
Classification: Naked sea butterflies are members of the order Theocosomata (shelled pteropod), an opistobrach from the gastropod group under the molluscs.

Naked sea butterfly     Other names

Home    Contents    Inspiration    Facts    Collaboration   

© Aquascope 2000   Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Strömstad, Sweden
Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson