The biology of Limacina retroversa

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Author: Morton, J. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1954
• Subjects: Clione limacina
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002531540000833x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002531540000833X

The Plymouth Fauna List contains records of two genera of pteropods, Limacina and Clione . Of the first, Limacina retroversa (Flem.) is by far the better-known species, apparently occurring regularly at Plymouth in large numbers in townettings from outside, and sometimes inside, the Sound. It breeds at Plymouth from June to August, and Lebour (1932) has given a detailed account of its breeding and larval stages and has discussed its role in the plankton. The second species of Limacina at Plymouth is lesueuri (d'Orbigny), which has been observed from time to time since 1906, when it was very common. The last record in the Fauna is off the Breakwater in 1920. Of the gymnosomatous pteropods, Clione limacina Phipps is the only species regularly occurring. Lebour (1931) has described the life history of this form, and mentions February to August as its months of greatest abundance. Its breeding season is June to August. Another gymnosome, tentatively referred to as Clionina longicauda , is reported by Russell (1936), and from the specimen department at Plymouth Laboratory the writer obtained some preserved specimens, not easily identifiable, of a Pneumodermopsis taken locally; its species is perhaps ciliata , recorded by Massy (1917) from the Irish Coast.