Abstract
The mantle dermal formations (MDFs) ofHypselodoris webbi (D'orbigny, 1839), andH. cantabrica (Bouchet and Ortea, 1980) are globular sub-epidermal structures located in the cephalic and caudal regions. Histologically they consist of an accumulation of vacuolate cells surrounded by a basal lamina and an outer muscular capsule. Chemical analysis ofH. webbi MDFs reveals the presence of high concentrations of longifolin, a well known deterrent furanosesquiterpenoid that had been previously isolated from this species. In the present paper it is demonstrated that the great majority of longifolin accumulated in the mantle ofH. webbi is stored in the MDF vacuolar cells. This finding strongly suggests that such structures act as chemical weapons against predation, mainly protecting vital organs such as the head, rhinophores and gills.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Ayer, S. W., Andersen, R. J. (1983). Degraded monoterpenes from the opisthobranch molluscMelibe leonina. Experientia 39: 255–256
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Morrone, R., Sodano, G. (1985a). The chemical defense of nudibranch molluscs. Tetrahedron 41: 1093–1100
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Sodano, G. (1981). Novel sesquiterpenoid esters from the nudibranchDendrodoris limbata. Tetrahedron Lett. 22: 1271–1272
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Sodano, G. (1982). The chemical defense of four Mediterranean nudibranchs. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 73B: 471–474
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Sodano, G., Villani, G. (1983). Dorid nudibranch elaborates its own chemical defense. Science, N.Y. 219: 1237–1238
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Sodano, G. (1985b). Observations on the toxicity and metabolic relationships of polygodial, the chemical defense of the nudibranchDendrodoris limbata. Experientia 41: 1335–1336
Cimino, G., Rosa, S. de, Stefano, S. de, Sodano, G. (1986). Marine natural products: New results from Mediterranean invertebrates. Pure appl. Chem. 58: 375–386
Cimino, G., Stefano, S. de, Minale, L., Trivellone, E. (1975). Furanosesquiterpenoids in sponges. V: Spiniferins fromPleraplysilla spinifera. Tetrahedron Lett. 16: 3727–3730
Edmunds, M. (1966a). Protective mechanisms in the Eolidacea (Mollusca Nudibranchia). J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.) 46: 27–71
Edmunds, M. (1966b). Defensive adaptations ofStiliger vanellus Marcus, with a discussion on the evolution of nudibranch molluscs. Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 37: 73–81
Edmunds, M. (1968). Acid secretion in some species of Doridacea (Mollusca, Nudibranchia). Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 38: 121–133
Faulkner, D. J. (1984). Marine natural products — Metabolites of marine invertebrates. Nat. Product Rep. (Lond.) 1: 556–598
Faulkner, D. J., Ghiselin, M. T. (1983). Chemical defense and evolutionary ecology of dorid nudibranchs and some other opisthobranch gastropods. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 13: 295–301
García-Gómez, J. C., Coveñas, R., Medina, A., López-Campos, J. L. (1986). Study on the anatomy and history of dermal formations (DFs) in chromodorid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia). Abs. 9th int. Malac. Cong., Edinburgh, p. 28
Hagadone, M. R., Burreson, B. J., Scheuer, P. J. (1979). Defense allomones of the nudibranchPhyllidia varicosa Lamarck 1801. Helv. chim. Acta 62: 2484–2494
Hayashi, N., Komae, H., Eguchi, E., Nakayama, N., Hayashi, S., Sakao, T. (1972). Two new furanosesquiterpenes fromActinodaphne longifolia. Chem. Ind. 14: 572–573
Hochlowski, J. E., Faulkner, D. J. (1981). Chemical constituents of the nudibranchChromodoris marislae. Tetrahedron Lett. 22: 271–274
Hochlowski, J. E., Walker, R. P., Ireland, C., Faulkner, D. J. (1982). Metabolites of four nudibranchs of the genusHypselodoris. J. org. Chem. 47: 88–91
Marbach, A., Tsurnamal, M. (1973). On the biology ofBerthellina citrina (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) and its defensive acid secretion. Mar. Biol. 21: 331–339
Okuda, R. K., Scheuer, P. J. (1985). Latrunculin-A, ichthyotoxic constituent of the nudibranchChromodoris elisabethina. Experientia 41: 1355–1356
Ros, J. (1976). Sistemas de defensa de los opistobranquios. Oecologia aquat. (Barcelona) 2: 41–77
Ros, J. (1977). La defensa en los opistobranquios. Invest. Cienc. 12: 48–60
Rudman, W. B. (1984). The Chromodorididae (Opisthobranchia: Mullusca) of the Indo-West Pacific: a review of the genera. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 81: 115–273
Schulte, G. R., Scheuer, P. J. (1982). Defense allomones of some marine mollusks. Tetrahedron 38: 1857–1863
Spurr, A. R. (1969). A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26: 31–43
Thompson, T. E. (1960a). Defensive acid secretion in marine gastropods. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 39: 115–122
Thompson, T. E. (1960b). Defensive adaptations in opisthobranchs. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 39: 123–134
Thompson, T. E. (1983). Detection of epithelial acid secretions in marine molluscs: review of techniques and new analytical methods. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 74(A): 615–621
Thompson, T. E., Colman, J. G. (1984). Histology of acid glands in Pleurobranchomorpha. J. mollusc. Stud. 50: 65–67
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
García-Gómez, J.C., Cimino, G. & Medina, A. Studies on the defensive behaviour ofHypselodoris species (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia): Ultrastructure and chemical analysis of mantle dermal formations (MDFs). Mar. Biol. 106, 245–250 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01314807
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01314807