Hải dương học và Sinh học biển: Một đánh giá hàng năm, năm 2006, 44, 197-276 © R. N. Opisthobranch động vật thân mềm là cực kỳ thú vị năm nhóm các loài động vật, hiển thị một chiến lược đa dạng trong hình dạng, màu sắc và cuộc sống. | Oceanography and Marine Biology An Annual Review 2006 44 197-276 R. N. Gibson R. J. A. Atkinson and J. D. M. Gordon Editors Taylor Francis DEFENSIVE GLANDULAR STRUCTURES IN OPISTHOBRANCH MOLLUSCS FROM HISTOLOGY TO ECOLOGY HEIKE WAGELE1 MANUEL BALLESTEROS2 CONXITA AVILA3 1Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Institut fur Evolutionsbiologie An der Immenburg 1 53121 Bonn Germany and Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Koenig Adenauer Allee 160 53113 Bonn Germany E-mail hwaegele@ 2Facultat de Biologia Universitat de Barcelona Av. Diagonal 645 08028 Barcelona Catalunya Spain E-mail mballesteros@ 3CEAB-CSIC c Accés a la Cala Sant Francesc 14 17300 Blanes Girona Catalunya Spain E-mail conxita@ Abstract Opisthobranch molluscs are an extremely interesting group of animals displaying a wide diversity in shape colour and life strategies. Chemical ecology of this group is particularly appealing since most species have a reduced or absent shell and have developed chemical defences to avoid predation. New results on defensive glandular structures as well as a compilation of literature data in sea slugs Opisthobranchia Gastropoda Mollusca are presented in this review. Investigation of these structures is based on detailed analyses of the histology of many representative species of all major taxa of the Opisthobranchia. The results are correlated with previous and new findings of secondary metabolites in these animals and are set in a phylogenetic context. Additionally information on food sources is given. Also an hypothetical scenario relating chemical ecology to histology is proposed. This information will help future analyses to investigate defensive devices on a much more accurate basis and allow a better understanding of evolutionary processes which are observed independently in many opisthobranch clades. Introduction Defensive strategies are manifold in Opisthobranchia and comprise cryptic appearance Edmunds 1987 Wagele Klussmann-Kolb .
