Gastropod Main


Glossary


References


Links


Hooper Main



Evolution 4



Unlike the pulmonates, the opisthobranchs have endeavoured to better adapt to their original marine environment, rather than colonise other areas. Some stenoglossan opisthobranchs can incorporate the chloroplasts from their algal food into their digestive cells, where they continue to photosynthesise for their new host. Most, like the nudibranchs, have lost their shells and range in size from less than 5 mm to over 10 cm. Most likely arising from primitive prosobranchs, they have radiated to inhabit the shallow seas and great depths and many have become active predators, as have many prosobranchs that have remained in the seas.



nudibranch.gif

Figure 5: A Nudibranch. Many opisthobranchs have lost their external shells. These are highly adapted to their particular environments.






BACK | NEXT


Evolution
Morphology
Fossil Record
Ecology
Glossary


Contact the Author