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Morphological Organization of Cerata in the Nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia)

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Abstract

The morphology of cerata and cnidosacs were studied in the nudibranch mollusk Pteraeolidia semperi (Bergh, 1870). Fine tubules arise from the gastrodermal channel of the digestive gland and contain cells with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae). The cnidosac stores large kleptocnides. Thus, P. semperi provides a unique example of symbiotrophic feeding specialization. Morphological organization of its cerata and the digestive gland demonstrates several adaptations for housing zooxanthellae and providing them with proper conditions for active photosynthesis.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Yu.V. Deart (Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution) for kindly providing the material for this work. Microscopic studies were performed at the Interfaculty Laboratory of Electron Microscopy (Moscow State University) and Microscopy Center (White Sea Biological Station, Moscow State University).

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 20-34-90106 “Comparative Anatomy and Mechanism of Function of Cnidosacs in Nudibranchia Mollusks (Mollusca: Gastropoda)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    O. A. Vorobyeva, I. A. Ekimova &  V. V. Malakhov

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  1. O. A. Vorobyeva
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  2. I. A. Ekimova
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  3. V. V. Malakhov
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Correspondence to O. A. Vorobyeva.

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Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Translated by T. Tkacheva

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Vorobyeva, O.A., Ekimova, I.A. & Malakhov, V.V. Morphological Organization of Cerata in the Nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia). Dokl Biol Sci 508, 72–75 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496622700181

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0012496622700181

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