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Cavolinia tridentata
Tiny Cavolinia pteropod, less than 1 cm floating in the water column, seen during a night dive. This planktonic mollusc is commonly known as a pteropod, or flapping snail, a name derived from its characteristic 'wing foot'. It possesses a globose, bilaterally symmetrical calcareous shell that houses and protects the soft parts of the organism. The large mantle lobes extend beyond the shell margin and, by a flapping motion, enable movement. Feeding is performed passively whilst drifting in the plankton community by casting a large, mucous web in order to catch a variety of phytoplankton (diatoms and dinoflagellates) and zooplankton (copepods and crustacea larvae). This picture is a Sea Butterfly from the genus Cavolinia, possibly Cavolinia tridentata.
7 Comments
Thanks, @Polilla :)
Thanks, @Daniele for another SOTD to cap an exciting year :)
Thanks too, @Machi & @Antonio for your kind words and appreciation :)
Great series Albert,awesome creature,congrats on the well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing
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Congratulations Albert, this beautiful sea butterfly is our Spotting of the Day!
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One of my favorite animals! Nice photos
What an extraordinary ghost-like creature Albert! Cavoliniids are fascinating.