Creseis conica

Creseis conica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Clade: Euopisthobranchia
Order: Pteropoda
Family: Creseidae
Genus: Creseis
Species:
C. conica
Binomial name
Creseis conica
Eschscholtz, 1829

Creseis conica is a species of 'sea butterfly' in the order Pteropoda. [1]

Distribution

Creseis conica has been observed worldwide in tropical and temperate seas.[2][3] In islands surrounding New Zealand, the species inhabits 0–500 metres (0–1,640 ft) underwater, in temperatures ranging from 10–30 °C (50–86 °F).[2]

Description

The species can grow up to 0.7 centimetres (0.28 in) long, and is surrounded by a thin and brittle uncoiled shell. A fully grown shell is approximately the same size as the pteropod itself, and is colourless. The diameter of the aperture is 1 millimetre. It has wing appendages and a short columellar muscle. It feeds off of protozoans and phytoplankton, closer to the surface from the ocean. [4]

References

  1. ^ "Creseis conica". OPK Opistobranquis. 2015-02-21. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  2. ^ a b "Creseis conica | Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)". obis.org. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  3. ^ "NZ Mollusca - Creseis conica". mollusca.co.nz. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  4. ^ "Creseis virgula conica". Pelagic Molluscs. 2.0. Naturalis Biodiversity Center.