Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Family Glaucidae. <i>Glaucus atlanticus</i>.(from Beesley, Ross & Wells 1998) [S. Weidland]

Family Glaucidae. Glaucus atlanticus.(from Beesley, Ross & Wells 1998) [S. Weidland]

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Regional Maps

Family GLAUCIDAE Gray, 1827


Compiler and date details

May 2014 - Robin Wilson, Museum Victoria

Introduction

A family of one genus and two species. Glaucid aeolids are adapted to a pelagic life on the open ocean. Here they spend their lives floating upside down at the surface of the sea, helped by an ingested bubble of air. Animals of both species are bicoloured, dark and darkest blue on the ventral side which faces the light, silvery white on the dorsal surface which faces the abyssal depths. The cerata arise from stout arms or peduncles that project from the body. The cerata are used to “row” animals about as they seek their prey, the floating cnidarians Physalia, Velella and Porpita.

[Compiled from Burn (in press 2012)]

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
01-Dec-2011 OPISTHOBRANCHIA 01-Dec-2011 MOVED Dr Robin Wilson
01-Dec-2011 01-Dec-2011 MOVED
11-Jan-2016 23-Nov-2011 MODIFIED
24-Mar-2011 (import)