Akera bullata explained

Akera bullata, named the royal flush sea slug,^[1] is a species of sea snail (or sea slug), a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Akeridae, a family that is related to the sea hares.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} This species is the only European representative of the genus Akera.

Distribution

This species occurs from Norway to the Canaries, and also in the Mediterranean.^{[9] [10] [11]}

Ecology

This is a herbivorous bottom dweller (up to 370 m deep), which feeds on seagrasses in the genera Zostera and Posidonia.

Description

The body of this sea hare can reach a maximum length of about 6 cm. Its coloration varies from gray to orange, often with white or dark specks. The shell is fragile, smooth, and can be either white or brown. This sea hare is not an agile swimmer. When disturbed, it uses its broad parapodia — fleshy protrusions held together in a funnel shape above the head — to paddle away.^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]}

Synonyms

Acera bullata is an orthographic variant with considerable currency.

The NLBIF lists a large number of synonyms in addition to the above; including: Bulla akera (Gmelin, J.F., 1791),^[19] Bulla norwegica (Bruguière, J.G., 1789), Bulla canaliculata (Olivi, 1792), Bulla resiliens (Donovan, E., 1801), Bulla fragilis (Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de, 1822), Akera flexilis (Brown, 1844), Bulla hanleyi (Adams A. in Sowerby G.B. II, 1850/1855), Eucampe donovani (Leach, W.E., 1852), Bulla elastica (Sandri & Danilo, 1856), Acera bullata var. nana (Jeffreys, 1867), Acera elegans (Locard, 1886), Bulla farrani (Norman, 1890), Bulla globosa (Cantraine, F.J., 1840),^[20] Akera tenuis (Brusina, S., 1866) and Akera farrani (Winckworth, R., 1932).^{[19] [21] [22]}

References

• Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologica Danicae Prodromus seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum characters, nomine, et synonyma imprimis popularium. Havniae. XXXII, 274 pp., page(s): 242

Further reading

• Proposed use of the Plenary Powers for the purpose of securing that the name bullata Muller (O. F.), 1776, as published in the combination Akera bullata, shall be the oldest available name for the species currently so known (Class Gastropoda).
• Ecology and taxonomic status of the aplysiomorph Akera bullata in the British Isles.
• The marine fauna of the Sizewell area 1: brackish lagoons.
• Akera bullata Mueller O.F., 1792 in the southeastern Mediterranean (Israel).
• Marine invertebrates.
• Phylogenetic analysis of learning-related neuromodulation in molluscan mechanosensory neurons.
• Die Conchylien des Mittelmeers. Band ii. Mollusca cephala.
• Hayward, P.J., Wigham, G.D. & N. Yonow, 1990. Mollusca I: Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, and Gastropoda. In: The Marine Fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe. (ed. P.J. Hayward & J.S. Ryland). Clarendon Press, Oxford: 628–730.
• Poppe, G.T. & Y. Goto, 1991. European Seashells. Vol. I. 352 pp. Wiesbaden/Verlag Christa Hemmen.
• Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.
• Sowerby, G.B., 1859: Illustrated Index of British Shells. London.
• Thompson, T.E., 1988. Molluscs: Benthic Opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Synopses of the British fauna (NS), 8: 1–356.
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=71501&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock
• http://www.treebase.org/cgi-bin/treebase.pl?TaxonID=T16839&Submit=Taxon+ID
• http://www.medslugs.de/E/Med/Akera_bullata.htm

Notes and References

1. News: 2012-07-24 . 'Cutpurse wasp' wins species naming competition . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-04-16 . 0261-3077.
2. http://www.eol.org/pages/451975{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
3. Web site: Namebank Record Detail.
4. Web site: Namebank Record Detail.
5. Web site: Namebank Record Detail.
6. Web site: Record Details - Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF). 14 December 2021.
7. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/show_species_details.php?record_id=855776{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
8. Web site: Search.
9. http://www.iobis.org/OBISWEB/ObisControllerServlet?category=all&names=data&action=lookupbyname&searchCategory=&classificationCode=&view=searchResults&category=&autocomplete=n&searchTypeSelect=%2FSciNameServlet&searchName=Akera%20bullata#{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
10. Web site: Search.
11. Web site: GBIF . 2010-03-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150702024030/http://data.gbif.org/occurrences/search.htm?c . 2015-07-02 . [0].s=20&c[0].p=0&c[0].o=13780485
12. Web site: ION: Index to Organism Names . www.organismnames.com . 6 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190113122457/http://www.organismnames.com/details.htm?lsid=2785448 . 13 January 2019 . live.
13. Web site: ION: Index to Organism Names.
14. Web site: ION: Index to Organism Names.
15. http://www.catalogueoflife.org/show_reference_details.php?record_id=855776{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
16. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Akera bullata.
17. Web site: MarBEF Data System - ERMS - Akera bullata O. F. Müller, 1776.
18. Web site: The Sea Slug Forum - Akera bullata. 2010-07-15.
19. Marine Mollusca of the Faroes. p. 95.
20. European Marine Snails. p. 26
21. Web site: NLBIF : Akera bullata O. F. Muller, 1776 . 2010-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718034411/http://www.nlbif.nl/species_details.php?name=Akera+bullata . 2011-07-18 . dead .
22. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Akera bullata.