Short reports
ScienceAsia 37 (2011): 160-164 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2011.37.160
Spicule network patterns of Phyllidia varicosa
Pattira Kasamesiria, Shettapong Meksumpuna,b,*, Charumas Meksumpunc
ABSTRACT: Spicule network patterns inside the body of a nudibranch play an important role in supporting the soft body of the nudibranch. These patterns can also be one of the indicators for prediction of the phylogenetic affinity of the nudibranch. Specimens of the nudibranch (Phyllidia varicosa) were collected from Koh Phi Phi and neighbouring islands in Krabi. The spicule network in the mantle of the central notum looked like a net, whilst at the edge of the mantle it appeared as a radial line crossing the body. The spicules in the nudibranch foot were interlaced and were perpendicular to the body length. A study of the spicule contents by indirect examination indicated that the CaCO3 content in the central notum, mantle edge, and foot was 460±20, 462±20, and 469±20 mg/g dry weight, respectively. The spicule content in the various body regions did not differ significantly (p=0.7). The relationship between total weight of the spicule network (TW) and whole body dry weight (WB) was estimated as TW=0.446WB (R2=0.9994).
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| a |
Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand |
| b |
Centre of Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, KU Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand |
| c |
Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: ffisspm@ku.ac.th
Received 26 Aug 2010, Accepted 20 May 2011
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