We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.

Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.

Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.
Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.
Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.
Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.
Comments (0)
207187
Maas, Amy
Sea butterflies or planktonic snails, Pteropods.
Still Image
11/27/2012
tiny_pteropods.jpg
Caption from 2013 wall calendar:
August - Tiny Pteropods
Sea butterflies are swimming snails scientifically classified as pteropods (silent p) meaning wing foot. This species, Limacina inflata, has a coiled shell like a garden snails, and short wing-like extensions that it flaps energetically to keep from sinking. As small as a sand grain or pinhead, they are extremely abundant in some ocean regions and important in the marine food chain. They carry their eggs inside their clear bodies, giving the offspring protection while developing, but are vulnerable to increasing ocean acidification, which can corrode their thin, glassy shells.
Image of The Day caption:
WHOI scientist Gareth Lawson recently led a research cruise in the Pacific to study sea butterflies, swimming snails whose scientific name, pteropod, means 'wing foot'. This species, Limacina inflata, has short, wing-like extensions that it flaps to keep from sinking. As small as sand grains, they are extremely important in marine food chains. Evidence has shown they are also vulnerable to increasing ocean acidification, which can corrode their thin, glassy shells. This image is in the 2013 WHOI calendar, available at the WHOI store and at the Ocean Science Exhibit Center.
Photo by Amy Maas
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Labels
This item includes these files
Image
Image
Collections