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A scanning-electron microscopic study of Dickdellia labioflecta (Dell, 1990) (Gastropoda, Littorinoidea) on Colossendeis megalonyx megalonyx Fry and Hedgpeth, 1969 (Pycnogonida, Colossendeidae): a test for ectoparasitism - Polar Biology

  • ️Schwabe, Enrico
  • ️Wed Jul 19 2006

Abstract

A scanning-electron microscopic (SEM) study of a clutch of eggs and juveniles of Dickdellia labioflecta on Colossendeis megalonyx megalonyx revealed that the young snails remove the upper layers of the pycnogonid cuticle, most probably by rasping. This way holes are created in the cuticle that could serve as a potential source of food for the snail. Measurements and statistics show that the holes have the same density as the cuticular glands. These glands are spread all over the pycnogonid cuticle. Additionally, they are filled with cytoplasmic material having a fine structure and cuticular surrounding that is typical for those glands. Hence, it is suggested that the snails get access to the interior of the pycnogonid through the holes and glands. Holes in the cuticle are absent under smaller Dickdellia specimens, but they are formed consecutively as they become older and grow larger. It is suggested that Dickdellia snails are ectoparasites because this would allow them to remain on pycnogonids until they exceed the initial egg volume, which would be difficult to explain without additional food uptake from the pycnogonid host.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Michael Schrödl (Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany), the sorting teams, and the crew of RV “Polarstern” are warmly thanked for their professional work. Maria Montoya (Munich) kindly determined the Colossendeis pycnogonid. Special thanks go to Nicolas Straube (Munich) for giving us help with the statistics and Stefan Schmidt for improving the English. This is ANDEEP contribution No. 56.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologische Staatssammlung, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247, Munich, Germany

    Tobias Lehmann, Juan P. Gailer, Roland R. Melzer & Enrico Schwabe

Authors

  1. Tobias Lehmann

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  2. Juan P. Gailer

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  3. Roland R. Melzer

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  4. Enrico Schwabe

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Correspondence to Tobias Lehmann.

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Lehmann, T., Gailer, J.P., Melzer, R.R. et al. A scanning-electron microscopic study of Dickdellia labioflecta (Dell, 1990) (Gastropoda, Littorinoidea) on Colossendeis megalonyx megalonyx Fry and Hedgpeth, 1969 (Pycnogonida, Colossendeidae): a test for ectoparasitism. Polar Biol 30, 243–248 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0178-6

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  • Received: 20 March 2006

  • Revised: 09 June 2006

  • Accepted: 19 June 2006

  • Published: 19 July 2006

  • Issue Date: January 2007

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0178-6

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