Aplysia punctata and commensal? bivalve.

June 8, 2002
From: Stephen Hoskins

Dear Bill,
A short while ago I posted an observation regarding a bivalve being firmly clamped across the opening of the mantle cavity of a living Aplysia punctata and you replied that it may be a chance encounter or a new form of association. I have now encountered the phenomenon again and my question is why would the bivalve site itself across the opening of the mantle cavity?
Stephen.

SRH@4TheNet.co.uk

Hoskins, S., 2002 (Jun 8) Aplysia punctata and commensal? bivalve.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7174

Dear Stephen,
While one sighting could easily be a coincidence, two sightings starts to sound quite interesting. Have you photographed this or kept any specimens? I would encourage both, as I am sure we could find someone who could help you identify the bivalve - which is probably only known from an empty shell. In my last comment to you I suggested that if the bivalve was a commensal then it was most probably a leptonoidean. In fact the oldest name for the superfamily is Galeommatoidea [Southern Synthesis Part A, 1998].

Why is the bivalve situated near the opening of the mantle cavity? Many commensals position themselves near water currents. This is particularly useful for filter feeding and deposit feeding commensals, such as bivalves, as it enables them to filter food particles out of the incoming water current, and to intercept, and perhaps eat, faecal and waste material from the outgoing current. The position of your bivalves then is another indication that you may have found a commensal association. If you are interested I could try and find a bivalve expert for you to collaborate with.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B, 2002 (Jun 8). Comment on Aplysia punctata and commensal? bivalve. by Stephen Hoskins. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7174

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