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Hydroginella wareni

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Hydroginella wareni
Shell of Hydroginella wareni (holotype at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Marginellidae
Genus: Hydroginella
Species:
H. wareni
Binomial name
Hydroginella wareni
Boyer, Wakefield & McCleery, 2003[1]

Hydroginella wareni is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc or micromollusc in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.[2]

Description

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Hydroginella wareni is a small marine gastropod within the family Marginellidae, a diverse group commonly known as “margin shells” due to the unique shape and structural characteristics of their shells.[3] The Marginellidae family is distinguished by its members' smooth, glossy, and sometimes vibrantly colored shells, which are adaptations developed over millions of years.[4] These evolutionary traits not only make marginellid shells highly distinctive within marine environments but also play critical roles in their survival.[5] The polished, reflective shell surface of H. wareni serves as an evolutionary adaptation, allowing it to reduce drag and burrow more efficiently in sandy or muddy substrates.[6] This polished surface may also deter some predators by making the shell less tactilely accessible, creating a natural defense mechanism that aids its survival. As with other species in Marginellidae, H. wareni displays minimal morphological changes over evolutionary time, suggesting that the family's existing features have been highly adaptive within specific marine environments, allowing for stability in form and function.[7]

Belonging to the class Gastropoda and the phylum Mollusca, Hydroginella wareni represents one of the most diverse and ecologically significant groups within the animal kingdom.[8] The Mollusca phylum includes a vast range of species adapted to nearly every ecosystem on Earth, from terrestrial to marine.[9] Gastropods, in particular, have thrived in various marine habitats due to their versatile body structure, unique feeding mechanisms, and adaptive shell morphology. H. wareni, like other gastropods, relies on its streamlined and elongated shell for burrowing and maneuvering within its environment.[10] The relatively small size of its shell, with lengths typically ranging from 5 to 12 mm—often reaching a maximum of 5.9 mm—makes it one of the smaller marginellid species. Its size is an advantage, allowing it to access small crevices and hide in sandy or muddy environments, thereby minimizing its exposure to predators.[11]

The pale, cream or off-white color of Hydroginella wareni’s shell also serves as an important survival adaptation.[12] This coloration enables it to blend seamlessly into its preferred sandy and muddy substrates, offering a level of camouflage that is crucial for evading predation.[13] The smooth, glossy finish of the shell further enhances its inconspicuousness in its natural habitat, reflecting light in a way that makes it less detectable against the substrate. Unlike many other gastropod species that possess pronounced spires for structural support, H. wareni has a relatively flat or low spire.[14] This reduction in spire height creates a more hydrodynamic shape, aiding the species in burrowing and reducing the risk of being detected by predators.[15] Additionally, H. wareni’s shell lacks external ridges, spines, or other ornamentation commonly found in other gastropods, which serves as a further adaptation for movement within sandy environments. The smooth, unornamented shell minimizes resistance, allowing for more efficient navigation and burrowing in loose sediment.[16]

The shell's narrow aperture also plays a functional role in Hydroginella wareni’s ecology.[17] This narrow opening reduces the potential entry points for smaller predators and sand particles, thereby protecting the soft body of the organism from external threats and environmental particles.[18] The simplicity of the shell structure and the polished finish not only reflect its taxonomic classification within Marginellidae but also provide a clear example of the relationship between form and function in gastropods.[19] Each aspect of the shell's morphology is an adaptation finely tuned to its behavior, habitat, and ecological niche, highlighting how this ancient family of marine snails has maintained a consistent yet highly functional body plan across vast evolutionary timescales.[20]

Distribution

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This marine species occurs off Fiji. Hydroginella wareni is found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region, with established populations around New Caledonia, the Philippines, and parts of Southeast Asia. This distribution aligns with the high marine biodiversity and rich coral reef systems found in these regions, providing H. wareni with an environment rich in resources and protective habitats.[21] The species has been recorded at depths of 100 to 250 meters, where it thrives in sandy or muddy substrates near coral reefs. Coral reefs and adjacent sandy zones offer H. wareni both a source of food and a place for refuge from predators.[22] The unique combination of sand and reef structure also provides it with access to detritus and organic matter, which further supports its feeding and burrowing habits.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

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Hydroginella wareni is a carnivorous gastropod, primarily feeding on small invertebrates such as microcrustaceans and annelids. Like other species in the Marginellidae family, it has a specialized proboscis that it uses to detect and capture prey in its substrate-rich environment.[23] The species possesses a radula, a ribbon-like structure covered with rows of microscopic teeth that help it to scrape or pierce the soft tissues of its prey.[24] This diet of small invertebrates plays an important role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling the population sizes of these smaller organisms. Its streamlined shell and burrowing adaptations allow it to move efficiently through the sand or mud, where it finds and consumes prey, emphasizing its role as a micro-predator within its ecosystem.[25]

Reproduction and Lifecycle

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Hydroginella wareni is believed to reproduce by laying eggs, which develop into planktonic larvae that drift in the water column. This planktonic stage is critical for the species' dispersal, as it allows the larvae to spread across a wide geographic range before settling into suitable habitats.[26] The planktonic larvae eventually settle onto the substrate, where they grow into juveniles and begin their lives as bottom-dwellers.[27] This reproductive strategy is common among marine gastropods, where the larvae benefit from dispersal currents, increasing genetic diversity and enhancing the species’ potential to colonize new areas.[28] The development from planktonic larvae to juvenile and eventually adult life stages aligns with the ecological patterns observed in other marginellids and demonstrates their adaptability to different stages of the marine environment.

References

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  1. ^ Boyer, Wakefield & McCleery. 2003. Novapex 4 (2–3): 67–77. World Register of Marine Species, Retrieved 24 April 2010.
  2. ^ Hydroginella wareni Boyer, Wakefield & McCleery, 2003. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 24 April 2010.
  3. ^ Bouchet, Philippe; Rocroi, Jean-Pierre; Hausdorf, Bernhard; Kaim, Andrzej; Kano, Yasunori; Nützel, Alexander; Parkhaev, Pavel; Schrödl, Michael; Strong, Ellen E. (December 2017). "Revised Classification, Nomenclator and Typification of Gastropod and Monoplacophoran Families". Malacologia. 61 (1–2): 1–526. doi:10.4002/040.061.0201. ISSN 0076-2997.
  4. ^ Radich, Michael (2013). "Studies in Āgama Literature, with Special Reference to the Shorter Chinese by Marcus Bingenheimer (review)". Journal of Chinese Religions. 41 (1): 62–64. doi:10.1353/jcr.2013.0003. ISSN 2050-8999.
  5. ^ Beu, A. G. (March 1968). "A new subspecies of Ranularia(Mollusca, family Cymathdae) from the Kermadec Islands". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 2 (1): 23–28. doi:10.1080/00288330.1968.9515223. ISSN 0028-8330.
  6. ^ Jones; Baxter (1 June 1987). Molluscs: Caudofoveata, Solenogastres, Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda. BRILL. doi:10.1163/9789004627628. ISBN 978-90-04-08197-0.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Maria; Estes-Smargiassi, Kathryn (2016). "Women of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Generations of Female Paleontologists and Their Contributions". Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Geological Society of America. doi:10.1130/abs/2016am-282548.
  8. ^ Boyer, Franck (2023). "About some marginelliform gastropods (Marginellidae Cystiscidae and Granulinidae) from French Guyana". Biodiversity Journal. 14 (3): 513–532. doi:10.31396/biodiv.jour.2023.14.3.513.532. ISSN 2039-0394.
  9. ^ Laseron, Charles Francis (30 June 1948). "New South Wales Marginellidae". Records of the Australian Museum. 22 (1): 35–48. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.22.1948.588. ISSN 0067-1975.
  10. ^ Gili, Josep-Maria; Coma, Rafel (August 1998). "Benthic suspension feeders: their paramount role in littoral marine food webs". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 13 (8): 316–321. doi:10.1016/s0169-5347(98)01365-2. ISSN 0169-5347.
  11. ^ Turner, J. T. (2006), "Harmful Algae Interactions with Marine Planktonic Grazers", Ecology of Harmful Algae, Ecological Studies, vol. 189, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 259–270, doi:10.1007/978-3-540-32210-8_20, ISBN 978-3-540-32209-2, retrieved 29 October 2024
  12. ^ Seilacher, Adolf; Gishlick, Alan D. (5 November 2014). Morphodynamics. CRC Press. doi:10.1201/b17557. ISBN 978-0-429-17041-6.
  13. ^ Smith, C. Lavett; Paxton, John R.; Eschmeyer, William N. (2 February 1996). "Encyclopedia of Fishes". Copeia. 1996 (1): 235. doi:10.2307/1446971. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1446971.
  14. ^ Morton, Brian (August 2002). "Biology and functional morphology of the watering pot shell Brechites vaginiferus (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Clavagelloidea)". Journal of Zoology. 257 (4): 545–562. doi:10.1017/s0952836902001139. ISSN 0952-8369.
  15. ^ Yap, Helen (8 June 2010). "Faculty Opinions recommendation of Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems". doi:10.3410/f.3527968.3227070. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  16. ^ n.a.h. (February 1960). "Sea Shells of Tropical West America. Marine Mollusks from Lower California to Colombia. Myra Keen Stanford University Press London: Oxford University Press. £5". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 39 (1): 151. doi:10.1017/s0025315400013199. ISSN 0025-3154.
  17. ^ Weersing, K; Toonen, RJ (30 October 2009). "Population genetics, larval dispersal, and connectivity in marine systems". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 393: 1–12. doi:10.3354/meps08287. ISSN 0171-8630.
  18. ^ Trueman, E.R.; Brown, A.C. (1992), "The Burrowing Habit of Marine Gastropods", Advances in Marine Biology, Elsevier, pp. 389–431, doi:10.1016/s0065-2881(08)60041-3, ISBN 978-0-12-026128-4, retrieved 29 October 2024
  19. ^ Keast, Allen (March 2000). "Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Pamela L. Beesley, Graham J. B. Ross, Alice Wells". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 75 (1): 65. doi:10.1086/393310. ISSN 0033-5770.
  20. ^ Baldwin, Samuel Prentiss (1931). Bird banding by systematic trapping. Scientific publications of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Vol. 1. Cleveland, Ohio: [Cleveland Museum of Natural History]. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.60242.
  21. ^ Hartwig, Walter Carl (January 1993). "A splendid syllabus. The Cambridge encyclopedia of human evolution. Edited by S. Jones, R.D. Martin, and D. Pilbeam (1992). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, xiii + 506 pp. $95.00 (cloth). ISBN 0521323703". Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews. 2 (4): 147–149. doi:10.1002/evan.1360020410. ISSN 1060-1538.
  22. ^ Valentine, JW; Roy, K; Jablonski, D (2002). "Carnivore/non-carnivore ratios in northeastern Pacific marine gastropods". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 228: 153–163. doi:10.3354/meps228153. ISSN 0171-8630.
  23. ^ Aktipis, Stephanie W.; Giribet, Gonzalo; Lindberg, David R.; Ponder, Winston F. (25 March 2008), "Gastropoda", Phylogeny and Evolution of the Mollusca, University of California Press, pp. 200–237, doi:10.1525/california/9780520250925.003.0009, ISBN 978-0-520-25092-5, retrieved 29 October 2024
  24. ^ Bates, AE (11 October 2007). "Feeding strategy, morphological specialisation and presence of bacterial episymbionts in lepetodrilid gastropods from hydrothermal vents". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 347: 87–99. doi:10.3354/meps07020. ISSN 0171-8630.
  25. ^ Clench, William James (1965). "A new species of Clappia from Alabama". The Nautilus. 79 (1): 33–34. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.2074. ISSN 0028-1344.
  26. ^ Stachowicz, John J.; Hay, Mark E. (September 1999). "Mutualism and Coral Persistence: The Role of Herbivore Resistance to Algal Chemical Defense". Ecology. 80 (6): 2085. doi:10.2307/176680. hdl:1853/36757. ISSN 0012-9658. JSTOR 176680.
  27. ^ Thorson, Gunnar (January 1950). "Reproductive and Larval Ecology of Marine Botton Invertebrates". Biological Reviews. 25 (1): 1–45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-185x.1950.tb00585.x. ISSN 1464-7931.
  28. ^ Page, Louise R. (September 2002). "Comparative structure of the larval apical sensory organ in gastropods and hypotheses about function and developmental evolution". Invertebrate Reproduction & Development. 41 (1–3): 193–200. doi:10.1080/07924259.2002.9652752. ISSN 0792-4259.
  • Boyer, F., Wakefield, A., McCleery, T., 2003. The genus Hydroginella (Caenogastropoda: Marginellidae) at bathyal levels from the Fiji Islands. Novapex 4(2-3): 67–77
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