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Hydromylidae is a taxonomic family of small sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the suborder Gymnosomata, the sea angels. Hydromyles species are pelagic, carnivorous and viviparous.
Description
The small pelagic snails of the family Hydromylidae (Pruvot-Fol, 1942) lack a shell (except in their early embryonic stage).They are carnivores, equipped with swimming parapoda (fleshy, winglike outgrowths), strong jaws and grasping tentacles, often with suckers resembling those of cephalopods. A more comprehensive discussion can be found under the entry Sea angel.
Genera and species within the family Hydromylidae
Genus Hydromyles Gistl, 1848
- Hydromyles globulosus (Rang, 1825)
- Distribution: East Pacific, North America, Western Atlantic.
- Description: this pteropod sizes its prey with its radula. Contrary to most gymnosomatiids, this peropod has no proboscis and no hooks. It is also unique by having, close to the anal aperture, a sac for hatching its eggs. The larvae develop in this sac and are born as fully developed snails.
References and external links
- Martoja, M., 1965. Sur l'incubation et l'existence possible d'une glande endocrine, chez Hydromyles globulosa Rang (Halopsyche Gaudichaudi Keferstein), gastéropode gymnosome. -- C.R. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci. Paris, 260: 2907-2909.
- photo of Hydromyles globulosus
