The Biology of Berthelinia Caribbea Edmunds

Berthelinia caribbea Edmunds is a tamanovalvid gastropod which lives on the green alga Caulerpa verticillata Agardh in the salt-water channels of mangrove swamps. Its behaviour and feeding are typically sacoglossan. It has a short life span, rapid growth rate, and high fecundity. It has a penial stylet, as do some other Sacoglossa. Isolated individuals of B. caribbea self-fertilize and spawn. The larval stage is suppressed, and newly hatched veligers settle readily on Caulerpa and begin to feed. The bivalved shell develops shortly afterwards as an extension of the protoconch, the left valve being fused with the protoconch and the right valve hinged onto it. B. caribbea survives drastic reductions in salinity, such as occur periodically in its habitat. It produces an acid defensive secretion.