Veliger - planktonic larva of many kinds of molluscs

Veliger - larva planctônica de um molusco gastrópode (Mollusca, Gastropoda)
Veliger - planktonic larva of a gastropod mollusc (Mollusca, Gastropoda)

[@rm2kking]

I didn’t know they already had shells as larvae. That’s amazing.

[@outspokenpotato6211]

epic

[@princey_06]

Kawaii

[@user-dl9bh6wy9y]

Te felicito por tu trabajo. Hermoso. ❤

[@aditidharwadkar1749]

Nice video,thanks

[@virginiaafentoulis9432]

What are those protruding bulb tipped things? Parasites or part of the larva?

[@AlvaroMigotto]

Hi Virginia. Those are suctorian ciliates growing on the shell of the larva.

[@niszi01]

I might add a little more explaining to this :) These things are called "vela" (singular: velum) and are the whole point why this tiny mollusc in the making ist called veliger larva (another name ist trochophore larva). The vela help the larva move through the water in a swimming motion, while the fast-moving shaky shaky things on the edges oft those wings (cilia) are constantly transporting food like small algae in and their tiny poop out in kind of a waving motion. The vela are connected to the shell that protects all the visceral (and vital) organs and will later be reabsorbed as the mollusc will undergo a metamorphosis to adapt to it's very adulty down to earth benthic lifestyle, meaning no more flying around in liquid like a fairy and producing mucus to move or not move at all. Hope, that could help, I'm currently learning about those things for my exam and while my knowledge may still be flawed, this should be pretty exact ;)

[@virginiaafentoulis9432]

@@niszi01 I am familiar with the term velum and veliger from invertebrate zoology (I looked up veliger videos on purpose), I just see bulbs protruding from the baby-shell (this youngster already looks like a turbanid snail -amiright? :)). Thanks @Alvaro Migotto, that was what I was asking about - the suctorian ciliates (the protista are an as yet little explored world of organisms.) I've never seen any protists like these. Wow! @Niclas Laurenoth You're going to do fine on your test. ;)

[@AlvaroMigotto]

@@virginiaafentoulis9432 yes, Virgínia those tiny stalked guys are the suctorian ciliates. And you are rigth about the shell!

[@ДАРТАНЬЯН-з2щ]

​@@AlvaroMigotto what is the size of a veliger?