Oxynoe panamensis

Oxynoe panamensis is a species of small sea snail or sea slug, a bubble snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Oxynoidae.

Oxynoe panamensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
Informal group Opisthobranchia
clade Sacoglossa
clade Oxynoacea
Superfamily:
Oxynooidea
Family:
Oxynoidae
Genus:
Oxynoe
Species:
O. panamensis
Binomial name
Oxynoe panamensis
Pilsbry & Olsson, 1943[1]

Distribution

Oxynoe panamensis is found in mangrove swamps along the Baja, California and Mexico coasts.[2] The type locality for this species is Bocas Islands, Panama.[3]

Life habits

This species feeds on Caulerpa sertularioides, a green siphonaceous algae. When irritated, Oxynoe panamensis excretes a potent, milky toxin from its skin.[2] There is known autotomy of the tail under persistent mechanical irritation.[2]

References
  1. Pilsbry H. A. & Olsson A. (1943). "New marine mollusks from the west coast". Nautilus 56: 78-81. Described on pages 80-81, plate 8, figure 8-9.
  2. Lewin R. A. (1970). "Toxin secretion and tail autotomy by irritated Oxynoe panamensis (Opisthobranchiata: Sacoglossa)". Pacific Science 24: 356-358. PDF
  3. Jensen K. R. (November 2007). "Biogeography of the Sacoglossa (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia)" Archived 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. Bonner zoologische Beiträge 55(2006)(3-4): 255–281.
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