User:Lhart808/Cymbal Bubble Snail

= Haminoea Cymbalum; Cymbal Bubble Snail =



Overview
Haminoea Cymbalum or Cymbal Bubble Snail, a marine gastropod. This mollusk is found in many places worldwide, including; Hawaii, Indian Ocean, Indo Pacific, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Réunion, Sulawesi, and the Western Pacific Ocean. This snail is found in aquatic temperatures around 71.6 °F - 80.6 °F (22°C - 27°C). They take refuge in rocky tide pools surrounded by green algae, the bubble snails preferred nutritious food source.



Description
The Cymbal Bubble Snail is recognizable due to its teal-green hue and sprays of vibrant orange polka dots. The mollusk is sheltered by a fragile, inflated, and clear globular shell. This species of bubble snail only reaches 30mm in size. They can secrete a metabolite to discourage carnivorous fish as a defense mechanism.

Anatomy
Ciliary Tufts are found in Haminoea Cymbalum as well as similar species in the cephalaspid genus Haminoea. ¨Two ciliary tuft cells; four to six ampullary cells showing intracellular lumina filled with bundles of tightly packed cilia¨ H. cymbalum is described as a plankotropic developer which means the organism feeds on plankton as well as its well known algae food source.

Reproduction/Egg Masses
Haminoea Cymbalum species are simultaneous hermaphrodites. Both sets of sexual organs function in both genders. When laying eggs, the cluster is adhered with its wide base instead of attached using mucus strings. This taxa Iacks an albuminous fluid in their egg capsules. The egg capsules are arranged in tube-like structures within the egg sack. The capsule thickness ranges from each taxa to another but the bubble snails is 0.001 mm thick. Unlike A. atrata, C. inornata and P. cyanea, H. cymbalums egg structure has two visible membrane layers. Based off of research on Haminoea Cymbalum and various nudibranchs, its thought that the albuminous layer serves as a nutritive function which is thought to be consumed during the extent of development.

Food Source
They are most famously known for consuming green algae as an herbivorous organism. Lynbya majuscula- Stinging Limu is another species of algae eaten by H. Cybalum. Stinging Limu is found copiously in reefs and mingling with other algae. Micro-algae diets are sustainable for the mollusk family because they meet metabolic requirements for proper growth and development of aquatic gastropods. Cymbal Bubble Snails and varying mollusks help control the overbearing population of seaweeds and algae growth on coral reefs worldwide.

Bubble Shells
Bubble Shell mollusks are categorized in the order Cephalaspidea . Described as an order most closely related to naked marine snails. They take the name ¨bubble shells¨ because of the thin, transparent shell that merely protects the snail from predators. Due to their lack of defense, H. Cymbalum harbours a deterrent metabolite toxin to fend off predators. Most bubble shell species only live up to a year. Related species include Bulla ampulla, Chelidonura varians, and Siphopteron quadrispinosum.

Spawning Event; Saint Gilles Lagoon: 2007
A new behavior of H. Cybalum was observed as a great mass spawning event where several large patches of bubble snails congregated near the beach. This is unusual for the fact that H. Cybalum arent commonly found in this area of Belgium. This behavior was noticed continually for around a week.

See also:
More about Hawaiian Seaweeds- https://limuwatch.wordpress.com/green-algae/