| Trichoplacidae () |
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benthic; marine |
| Circumglobal. |
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Flat (up to 0.5mm in its longest dimension), multicellular, amorphous, mobile flagellated animal lacking body cavity, digestive and nervous systems, composed of 2 layers of epithelial cells. Associated glandular cells apparently secrete digestive enzymes beneath the animal as it sits atop the algae and protozoans on which it apparently feeds; digestion seems to be entirely extracellular , as there is no mouth and no sign of phagocytosis. The much thinner, upper layer of the animal bears flagellated cells, but no gland cells. In a sense, the upper layer is ectodermal, while the lower layer, because of its involvement in digesting food and absorbing nutrients, is endodermal. Between the upper and lower cell layers is a fluid-filled space containing a dense network of fibrous cells that may be contractile (Ref. 53). |
| Commonly found in warm marine environments (Ref. 57) and in marine aquaria (Ref. 59), on hard bottom substrates in the benthic regions (Ref. 53). A scavenger which feeds on dead animals with its ventral surface, which produces digestive enzymes (Ref. 53), and also feeds on Cryptomonas (Ref. 57 and 60) and algae (Ref. 59); often, individuals contract part of the ventral surface into a sac where digestion may take place more efficiently (Ref. 60). |
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Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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| harmless |
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