Differential feeding strategies in phyllidiid nudibranchs on coral reefs at Halmahera, northern Moluccas

Sponges frequently produce toxic secondary metabolites, especially in tropical coral reefs. These metabolites are thought to have evolved as a chemically mediated defence mechanism and are highly effective against potential predators (Proksch 1994). Nudibranchs of the family Phyllidiidae feed on spo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 2011-03, Vol.30 (1), p.59-59
Main Authors: van Alphen, J, de Voogd, N. J, Hoeksema, B. W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Coral reefs
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Life Sciences
Oceanography
Reef Site
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Summary:Sponges frequently produce toxic secondary metabolites, especially in tropical coral reefs. These metabolites are thought to have evolved as a chemically mediated defence mechanism and are highly effective against potential predators (Proksch 1994). Nudibranchs of the family Phyllidiidae feed on sponges of the order Halichondrida and exploit this adaptation: they selectively sequester the toxins and employ them for their own protection (Ritson-Williams and Paul 2007; Cimino and Ghiselin 2009). Other than most dorid nudibranchs, phyllidiids lack radulae and jaws. Rather, they are specialized in suctorial feeding. Their feeding apparatus consists of a small mouth followed by an inflated part of the pharynx known as the pharyngeal bulb, which contains secretory glands and can be everted (Fig. 1b, d), presumably for external digestion (Brunckhorst 1993).
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-010-0698-y