Pseudothecosomata

Los Pseudothecosomata son un grupo de moluscos gasterópodos heterobranquios marinos clasificados tradicionalmente entre los pterópodos, conocidos comúnmente como mariposas de mar. Como otros pterópodos, están adaptados a la vida en la columna de agua y utilizan unas expansiones del pie en forma de alas, denominadas parapodios, para nadar. A diferencia de los Euthecosomata, que suelen presentar una concha externa bien desarrollada, los pseudotecosomados adultos generalmente tienen la concha externa reducida o carecen de ella. Su cuerpo delicado y sus estructuras especializadas para la natación reflejan su adaptación a la vida pelágica, lejos del fondo marino.

Corolla spectabilis, un Pseudothecosomata típico

 

Los Pseudothecosomata habitan en ambientes marinos de todo el mundo, especialmente en mar abierto, donde forman parte del zooplancton. Se encuentran en aguas tropicales, templadas y, en algunos casos, más frías, y su distribución está condicionada por factores como las corrientes oceánicas, la temperatura, la disponibilidad de alimento y la profundidad. Muchas especies son relativamente pequeñas y transparentes, lo que dificulta su observación sin técnicas de muestreo especializadas. Algunas viven principalmente en aguas superficiales, mientras que otras se desplazan verticalmente por la columna de agua en respuesta a los cambios de luz, las oportunidades de alimentación y las condiciones ambientales.

Una de las características más distintivas del grupo es la estructura del cuerpo y su forma de desplazarse por el agua. Los parapodios se han desarrollado en forma de lóbulos alares que baten rítmicamente y permiten al animal nadar. En muchas especies, el cuerpo es gelatinoso y transparente, y la concha está ausente o se encuentra reducida a una pequeña estructura interna. Algunos pseudotecosomados presentan un cuerpo voluminoso y gelatinoso, con un amplio aparato natatorio, lo que les confiere un aspecto muy diferente del de las más conocidas mariposas de mar con concha. Estas diferencias anatómicas son importantes para distinguir las distintas especies y comprender sus adaptaciones al medio pelágico.

Los pseudotecosomados presentan diversas estrategias alimentarias. Muchos son depredadores especializados que capturan otros organismos planctónicos, incluidos pequeños crustáceos y otros animales gelatinosos o de cuerpo blando. Algunas especies utilizan estructuras especializadas o mucosidad para facilitar la captura de sus presas, mientras que otras dependen de la natación activa y del contacto directo. Su comportamiento alimentario los convierte en un componente importante de las redes tróficas pelágicas, ya que conectan distintos grupos de zooplancton y sirven de alimento a depredadores marinos de mayor tamaño.

Su cuerpo gelatinoso y su estilo de vida planctónico también hacen de los pseudotecosomados organismos interesantes para los estudios de ecología oceánica. Su distribución y abundancia pueden variar según las masas de agua, los cambios estacionales y la disponibilidad de presas. Como integrantes del zooplancton, contribuyen a la transferencia de energía a través de las redes tróficas marinas y forman parte de las complejas relaciones ecológicas que sustentan los ecosistemas oceánicos. Sin embargo, la información sobre su biología y la dinámica de sus poblaciones sigue siendo limitada para muchas especies, en parte porque son frágiles y difíciles de recolectar y estudiar sin dañarlas.

La taxonomía y las relaciones evolutivas de los Pseudothecosomata se han revisado mediante investigaciones anatómicas y moleculares. La clasificación tradicional de los pterópodos en grandes grupos ha experimentado cambios a medida que los estudios filogenéticos han aclarado sus relaciones dentro de Heterobranchia. Por ello, los límites y el estatus de Pseudothecosomata dependen de la clasificación utilizada, y el grupo debe entenderse en el contexto de la sistemática, todavía en evolución, de los gasterópodos pelágicos. A pesar de su aspecto discreto, estos animales representan una parte singular de la biodiversidad marina y ofrecen información valiosa sobre la evolución de la natación, la alimentación y la supervivencia en mar abierto.

La clasificación actual de los Pseudothecosomata, según WoRMS es:

 

Algunas especies de Pseudothecosomata citadas en el Mediterráneo o en la Península Ibérica:

Bibliografía

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    Bouchet, P., Rocroi, J. P. (2005). Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia, 47(1-2), 1-397.
    Bouchet, P., Rocroi, J. P., Hausdorf, B., Kaim, A., Kano, Y., Nützel, A., Parkhaev, P. et al. (2017). Revised classification, nomenclator and typification of gastropod and monoplacophoran families. Malacologia, 61(1-2), 1-526.

    Bibliografía basada en los trabajos de Steve Long, 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000 y Gary McDonald, 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia, con actualizaciones posteriores procedentes de otras fuentes.