Aquascope Facts
Naked sea butterfly
Sp. Limacina


Naked sea butterfly Sp. Limacina

Distribution
Distribution in scandinavian waters
Maximum length: approx. 0,3 cm. Compare with the size of a hair.
Appearance: The shell is colourless and transparent while the animal is partly brown and mauve. The foot is transformed into two flaps that are used as fins. There is a noticable spire on the thin and left curled shell and the last whirl is almost the same size as the others.
Depth: From sea level to unknown depth.
Environment: Pelagic.
Misc: The naked sea butterbly of the limacina species is quite heavy and therefore has to use pretty powerful strokes with its flaps to rise spirally upwards. If the naked sea butterfly feels threatened it withdraws into its shell and quickly sinks. The flaps have have small cirria which are used to catch prey that comprise mainly of algae. This species itself falls prey to other larger animals in the water, e.g. herring and naked sea butterflies of the clione species. Every individual is a male in the beginning and later transforms into a female.
Classification: Naked sea butterflies of the limacina species are members of the skalförsedda vingsnäckor, som ingår i gruppen bakgälade snäckor, som ingår i gruppen snäckor.

Naked sea butterfly-Sp.limacina     Other names

Home    Contents    Inspiration    Facts    Collaboration   

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