Does Clione limacina have eyes?

December 12, 2006
From: Sim Kah Chine

Concerning message #4372:

My niece saw Clione limacina at Singapore Underwater World. She would like to know do Clione limacina has eyes? Or else how it sees?
Thanks!
Sim Kah Chine

shenjiaqing@yahoo.com

Shenjiaqing, 2006 (Dec 12) Does Clione limacina have eyes?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18905

Dear Kah Chine,

Your niece has asked a good question. Most sea slugs have eyes [see nudibranch head page and Sea Hare head pages] but the are not good enough for the slugs to be able to see anything with them. In the group of animals that snails and slugs belong to - the molluscs - only the cephalopods (squid, octopus) have eyes which can form images.

In fact none of the group of pteropods [Gymosomata] to which Clione belongs are thought to have eyes. If you look at the Clione limacina Fact Sheet you will see a pair of head tentacles. Many related species have a second pair of very small head tentacles at the back of the head, which have a group of nerve cells at the tips. Some people think these nerve cells may be a very primitive eye, but if so, I am sure it can't see anything.

Clione, like all pteropods relies on its very good sense of touch and smell to catch its food and find a partner.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Dec 12). Comment on Does Clione limacina have eyes? by Sim Kah Chine. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18905

Factsheet

Clione limacina

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