Thliptodon schmidti Pruvot-Fol, 1942
Overview
This is a small naked pelagic snail, less than 0.7 cm long, with a mainly transparent body and visceral mass is seen through the body wall. The wings are implanted laterally in the middle of the the barrel-shaped body. The posterior and lateral footlobes are very small but not separated. It is a quickly swimming, carnivorous species. It is epipelagic and mesopelagic in the Pacific Oceans (Thliptodon schmidti).
Taxonomic Description
The radula, which is distinct in this species, is nearly identical to Thliptodon gegenbauri. The body is small, pointed posteriorly, and droplet-shaped. Asymmetry in the body shape is common in this genus, but most distinct in the present species. The right wing for example is much longer than the left one, both are long drawn-out in shape with an undulating anterior border. The foot parts are extremely small. The lateral and posterior lobes are not separated as in Thliptodon diaphanus. The footlobes seem to be "retracted" into a sac of the outer integument and do not project outside the body contour when observed laterally. At both sides of the foot parts, two muscle bands are seen, crossing each other anteriorly and posteriorly. The visceral mass occupies only the anterior part of the body. As in the other species there is no constriction in the neck region. The radula formula is 3-1-1-1-3. The median plate is strongly dentated and in the centre there is a hollow space instead of a median cusp, the shape of the plate is semi-lunar. The intermediate plate is curved at its top and shows one to two cusps in the curvature. The three laterals are nearly straight and narrow. The hooks are numerous like in Thliptodon antarcticus and slender.
Body length up to 7 mm.
Juveniles
A special description is not available.
Reproduction
This species is a protandric hermaphrodite.
Ecology
This species is a carnivore.
Distribution
It is only known from the type locality in the Indo-Malayan waters.
Types
Thliptodon schmidti Pruvot-Fol, 1942: 25, figs. 26-31.
Holotype: ZMUC, very bad condition (alcohol collection) u.s.
Type locality: 4°20'S 116°46'W, 4000 mw. Coll.: CDAE, stat. 3561ii.