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Project Noah Nature School
Berthella martensi
The species in the family Pleurobranchidae have a prominent mantle and an internal shell that becomes reduced or is lost in adults. Some adult species have been seen feeding on ascidians. While larval pleurobranchids can be planktotrophic (feeding on plankton), lecithotrophic (deriving nutrition from yolk), or direct developing, many species produce secretions from their rich glandular mantle as a chemical defense against predators.Even the production of sulfuric acid has been reported.
Spotted on Jun 24, 2011
Submitted on Jul 7, 2011
