Titiscania limacina Bergh, 1890

Titiscania limacina is one of two known species in the genus Titiscania, the second being found in Japan. It is a shell-less mollusk most closely related, apparently, to Neritopsis. At Kwajalein, Titiscania limacina is usually found subtidally, underneath rocks that are partially buried in sand. The large one in the first photo measured about 15mm.

An opening to the mantle cavity which contains the gill is dorsal, just behind the head.

A specimen found in Majuro Atoll by Ken Cone and Beth Van Zummeren (below) had a much more distinctive pattern visible on the animal.

The white dots in two lines along the length of the body are reported to be glands that release a white defensive chemical when the animal is disturbed.

Although the species supposedly completely lacks a shell as adults, the damaged individual in the two photos below almost looks like it has a thin, smooth shell behind the eyes where the outer skin has peeled back, behind which is the mantle cavity containing the gill.

Created 22 November 2017
Updated 2 September 2021

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