Leodia sexiesperforata, commonly known as the six-holed keyhole urchin,[2] is a species of sand dollar, in the echinoderm orderClypeasteroida. It is native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean where it buries itself in soft sediment in shallow seas.
Like other sand dollars, Leodia sexiesperforata is radially symmetrical and flattened dorso-ventrally, having a circular or semi-pentagonal shape, but it also displays secondary, front-to-back bilateral symmetry. It is usually somewhere between 4.8 and 14.5 cm (1.9 and 5.7 in) in diameter. The mouth is on the oral (under) surface and is surrounded by the peristome and five deep, narrow food grooves, that branch as they near the margin. On the aboral (upper) surface of the test are five short, petal-like areas which are used as gills and six oval lunules (slots) which give the species its name "sexiesperforata". Five of these slots are in the ambulacral areas and the sixth is on the posterior interambulacral area. The anus is located in this lunule.[2][3][4]
The aboral surface is shallowly domed, the highest point being at the anterior petal, while the oral surface is flat. The body surface is covered with small spines which give it a velvety appearance. The colour of this sand dollar varies but is usually some shade of yellowish-brown or pale brown.[2][3][4]
Distribution and habitatedit
Leodia sexiesperforata is native to the tropical and sub-tropical western Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from North Carolina southwards to Uruguay. It is found at depths down to about 60 m (200 ft) but is commonest at less than half that depth. It inhabits sandy areas where there is little seagrass or algal growth.[2]
Ecologyedit
Leodia sexiesperforata inhabits the seabed and buries itself in the soft sediment to a depth of 2.5 cm (1 in) or so. It can bury itself in five to seven minutes.[2] The purpose of the lunules may be to equalise pressure above and below the sand dollar, thus reducing lift and helping prevent it from being washed away by strong currents.[5] It feeds on detritus and small organic particles, picking them up with the tube feet on the oral surface, moving them to the food grooves and thence to the mouth, where they are ground up by the teeth.[5]
^ abcde"Leodia sexiesperforata (Leske, 1778)". Bocas del Toro: Species database. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
^ abZoopy, Evelyn (1967). "Contribución al conocimiento de los equinodermos de Venezuela". Acta Biologica Venezuelica. 5 (17): 267–333.
^ abCooke, Charles Wythe (1959). Cenozoic Echinoids of Eastern United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 47.
^ abRuppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology, 7th edition. Cengage Learning. p. 906. ISBN978-81-315-0104-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
May 08, 2024
leodia, sexiesperforata, commonly, known, holed, keyhole, urchin, species, sand, dollar, echinoderm, order, clypeasteroida, native, tropical, tropical, parts, western, atlantic, ocean, where, buries, itself, soft, sediment, shallow, seas, illustration, louis, . Leodia sexiesperforata commonly known as the six holed keyhole urchin 2 is a species of sand dollar in the echinoderm order Clypeasteroida It is native to tropical and sub tropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean where it buries itself in soft sediment in shallow seas Leodia sexiesperforata Illustration by Louis Agassiz 1841 Scientific classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Echinodermata Class Echinoidea Order Clypeasteroida Family Mellitidae Genus Leodia Species L sexiesperforata Binomial name Leodia sexiesperforata Leske 1778 1 Synonyms 1 Echinodiscus sexiesperforatusLeske 1778 Echinus hexaporusGmelin 1791 Leodia richardsoniiGray 1851 Mellita erythraeaGray 1851 Mellita hexapora Gmelin 1791 Mellita platensisBernasconi 1947 Mellita sexforis Lamarck 1816 Mellita similisL Agassiz 1841 Scutella hexapora Gmelin 1791 Scutella sexforisLamarck 1816 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesDescription editLike other sand dollars Leodia sexiesperforata is radially symmetrical and flattened dorso ventrally having a circular or semi pentagonal shape but it also displays secondary front to back bilateral symmetry It is usually somewhere between 4 8 and 14 5 cm 1 9 and 5 7 in in diameter The mouth is on the oral under surface and is surrounded by the peristome and five deep narrow food grooves that branch as they near the margin On the aboral upper surface of the test are five short petal like areas which are used as gills and six oval lunules slots which give the species its name sexiesperforata Five of these slots are in the ambulacral areas and the sixth is on the posterior interambulacral area The anus is located in this lunule 2 3 4 The aboral surface is shallowly domed the highest point being at the anterior petal while the oral surface is flat The body surface is covered with small spines which give it a velvety appearance The colour of this sand dollar varies but is usually some shade of yellowish brown or pale brown 2 3 4 nbsp nbsp Distribution and habitat editLeodia sexiesperforata is native to the tropical and sub tropical western Atlantic Ocean Its range extends from North Carolina southwards to Uruguay It is found at depths down to about 60 m 200 ft but is commonest at less than half that depth It inhabits sandy areas where there is little seagrass or algal growth 2 Ecology editLeodia sexiesperforata inhabits the seabed and buries itself in the soft sediment to a depth of 2 5 cm 1 in or so It can bury itself in five to seven minutes 2 The purpose of the lunules may be to equalise pressure above and below the sand dollar thus reducing lift and helping prevent it from being washed away by strong currents 5 It feeds on detritus and small organic particles picking them up with the tube feet on the oral surface moving them to the food grooves and thence to the mouth where they are ground up by the teeth 5 References edit a b Kroh Andreas 2018 Leodia sexiesperforata Leske 1778 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 6 September 2018 a b c d e Leodia sexiesperforata Leske 1778 Bocas del Toro Species database Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Retrieved 6 September 2018 a b Zoopy Evelyn 1967 Contribucion al conocimiento de los equinodermos de Venezuela Acta Biologica Venezuelica 5 17 267 333 a b Cooke Charles Wythe 1959 Cenozoic Echinoids of Eastern United States U S Government Printing Office p 47 a b Ruppert Edward E Fox Richard S Barnes Robert D 2004 Invertebrate Zoology 7th edition Cengage Learning p 906 ISBN 978 81 315 0104 7 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leodia sexiesperforata amp oldid 1095689461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
