Monoplacophorans: Monoplacophora
No Common Name (laevipilina Antarctica): Species Account
Physical characteristics: The transparent valve is small, thin, and somewhat flat. The point on the valve is shaped like a nipple. The surface of the valve near the point is fairly smooth but becomes more ridged toward the margins. The tentacles are short, swollen at their tips, and have approximately seven short and thick appendages. The mantle cavity has five pairs of gills. The foot measures 0.06 by 0.04 inches (1.5 by 0.9 millimeters) across when it is not expanded.
Geographic range: They are found in the Weddell and Lazarev Seas, off the coast of Antarctica.
Habitat: They live attached to rocks and old shells on sea bottoms at depths of 690 to 2,100 feet (210 to 644 meters).
Laevipilina antarctica are found in the Weddell and Lazarev Seas, off the coast of Antarctica.
Diet: They scrape up bits of minerals, plants, animals, and other organisms that settle on the sea bottom.
Behavior and reproduction: Nothing is known about their behavior or reproduction.
Laevipilina antarctica and people: They are studied by scientists.
Conservation status: Laevipilina antarctica is not considered threatened or endangered. ∎
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Brusca, Richard C., and Gary J. Brusca. Invertebrates. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, 2003.
Periodicals:
Warén, A., and S. Hain. "Laevipilina antarctica and Micropilina arntzi: Two New Monoplacophorans from the Antarctic." The Veliger 35 (1992): 165-176.
Web sites:
"Class Monoplacophora." http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Monoplacophora.html (accessed on March 30, 2005).
"Class Monoplacophora." FactMonster http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0859721.html (accessed on March 30, 2005).
"Monoplacophora." http://www.biologydaily.com/biology/Monoplacophora (accessed on March 30, 2005).
"Shelled Marine Mollusks of Temperate Australia. Interactive Information and Identification." http://www.danceweb.com.au/marine/data/majgrps.htm#mono (accessed on March 30, 2005).
"Neopilina. A living fossil." http://www.weichtiere.at/Mollusks/Andere/neopilina.html (accessed on March 30, 2005).
Additional topics
Animal Life ResourceMollusks, Crustaceans, and Related SpeciesMonoplacophorans: Monoplacophora - Physical Characteristics, Monoplacophorans And People, No Common Name (laevipilina Antarctica): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION, CONSERVATION STATUS