Allantactis

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Allantactis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Actiniaria
Family: Hormathiidae
Genus: Allantactis
Danielssen, 1890[1]
Species:
A. parasitica
Binomial name
Allantactis parasitica
Danielssen, 1890[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Calliactis kroeyeri Danielssen, 1890
  • Calliactis kroyeri Danielssen, 1890
  • Calliactis krøyeri Danielssen, 1890

Allantactis is a

bathyal depths in the North Atlantic Ocean and has a symbiotic relationship with a gastropod mollusc
.

Description

A. parasitica has a strong base and a smooth column with thick walls and no cuticle or perforations of the body wall that are termed cinclides. The margin is distinct and the sphincter powerful. The

nematocysts consist of a mixture of spirocysts, basitrichs and microbasic p-mastigophors.[4]

Ecology

The species lives on the abyssal seabed of the North Atlantic at depths of between 725 and 1,100 m (2,400 and 3,600 ft). Although sometimes living attached to a pebble or empty shell, it prefers to attach to the shell of a living gastropod mollusc when available. Sea anemone larvae settling on the seabed do so preferentially on any gastropods that are present, and where the larvae settle onto mud, the presence of gastropods nearby stimulates them to move towards and onto the molluscs. Sometimes as many as six anemones can be found crowded onto the shell of a single living gastropod.[5]

Gastropods with one or two sea anemone on their shells were found to have greater feeding success and more varied stomach contents than those with either no epibionts, or with three or more. The sea anemones also benefited from the mutualism because of the longer time spent in food-rich areas in the deep sea floor, a place where food resources are limited.[6]

The chief

Crossaster papposus, but was able to escape from this predator when attached to a living gastropod mollusc.[5]

Despite living at bathyal depths where no light penetrates, A. parasitica is one of a number of deep sea species that show synchronisation in the release of eggs and sperm to the phases of the moon.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Danielssen, D.C. (1890). "Zoologi. Actinida.". Den Norske Nordhavs-expedition, 1876-1878. Vol. 5, pt2. Copenhagen: Grøndahl & søns. pp. 20–24.
  2. ^ Fautin, Daphne (2015). "Allantactis parasitica Danielssen, 1890". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. ^ Fautin, Daphne (2015). "Allantactis". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Allantactis parasitica". Tolweb. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.011
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1-4816-4649-9
    .
  7. ISBN 978-4-431-55261-1
    .
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