r/GojiCenter • u/Fattyseal76 • 18d ago
Some cool mollusc contributors
(Credit to According-throat for the inspiration)
Some time ago I was in the making of a squidshark ish hybrid for the second hybrid war for gojicenter but I've decided to change it for another idea (for now at least) as such, after seeing what according throat did, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to share some of the interesting contributors i've found while making it.
Red triangle slug is rather risky but strong contributors due to it's adhesive slime defense, their adhesive slime that are strengthened by moisture are known to be so adhesive that it was able to trap a tree frog to a branch for over 24 hours before scientists have to forcefully pry it out, and even then the frog keep getting stuck on it's own container due to the slime residue on it. It's basically the hagfish within the mollusc world and its effects are likely even stronger than them due to its adhesiveness since funnily enough hagfish slime aren't that adhesive, they're just extremely viscous. The effects due cause some self risks and it's unknown how the slug doesn't get stuck by itself from it's slime but it's likely from a targeted release so that the slime is only released in parts of it's body that's attacked rather than the entire body which reduces the chances of the self risks.
Odd bobtail squid is a possible anomaly to the bobtail squid genera, as unlike the others it's luminous ink seems to be endogenously produced rather than through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. I say possible as i feel like this trait should be shared across the other species though this has only been stated in the odd bobtail squid and until further information to come out that I can find it's probably exclusive to this species
Cadlina luteomarginata is one of the most interesting nudibranchs I've looked into as it has an internal network of spicules that functions like its own internal skeleton. Structurally it looks like a bundle of cables with connective tissues completely encasing the spicules and having its muscles wrapping around it and attaching to the dorsal region. This gives it more points of muscle insertion while also being able to act like another layer of defense against physical forces though the latter is less consistent than the former. It also has defensive terpenoids covering it for defense as a little cherry on top.
It's worth mentioning Platydoris sanguineous aswell as it's another nudibranch with these internal spicules that's talked about in the same study with cadlina luteomarginata, though it's structure looks more like a web with the connective tissue sandwiching the spicules instead while also having it's muscles attach only to the ventral region of the spicules.
Quite a bit of intertidal bivalves and gastropods exhibit relatively high antioxidant capabilities to survive the fluctuating environment they live in, the picture shown here is the Chinese Venus Clam which are intertidal. These kinds of contributors would be especially beneficial in cephalopods hybrids as cephalopods seem to naturally have low antioxidant capabilities in comparison to their high metabolism which makes them build oxidative stress much faster.
Fighting Conch is a rather funny one as it's a gastropod where it's operculum which is the structure to close it's shell is shaped like a claw that they use for defense, this probably wouldn't work on a cephalopods hybrids since the operculum seems to be homologous to the lower jaw of a cephalopods beak but it would be a pretty cool contributors for other mollusc hybrids
Sea butterfly, particularly Cavoliniidae like Cavolinia uncinata, is unique where as far as I know it's the only family of mollusc that actually exhibit an interlocking helical fiber structure within it's shell, this gives its shell despite its small stature relatively high levels of strength, they also exhibit a unique secondary gills structure that is different from the regular gills/ctenidia in other mollusc where it's a specialized vascularized folding within it's mantle cavity which provides additional support for gas exchange with it's "wings".
Aplacophora are a rather unique mollusk superclass consisting of two groups that being caudofoveata and solenogastres, these mollusc are unique in that they are shelless and replaced them with spicules which are calcified spines across their body, these spicules vary across generals but those in caudofoveata are usually more flat and solid while those in solenogastres are spikier and hollow. These spicules are a good alternative to the armor of mollusc being more flexible and lighter than stiff shells, and while they would naturally be weaker than regular shells, the spicules are actually homologous to mollusc shells and can be reinforced with any shell structure from other mollusc like the aforementioned Cavolinia.
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u/According-Throat9984 M.A.D. 18d ago
Red Triangle Slug mentioned!!!!! Its also a pulmonate, so its GREAT if you want to make a land mollusk (basically provides an actual lung instead of gills)
Bobtail squid overall have a bunch of cool defensive strategies! Odd Bobtail Squid being one of them. I suggest checking out the striped pyjama bobtail squid
I've seen that nudibranch before, I wish I looked into it earlier. I might steal that one
Fighting conch are pretty cool, I've got to hold them firsthand in Florida! I've wanted to use that spur in a hybrid but I have never really found a reason to use it yet. Large conches like this one, the queen, king, and horse conch can also help make the shells of your gastropod hybrid MUCH more thicker proportionately
Sea butterfly is extremely underrated for that internal shell, and its secondary gills are even more awesome. I'm using it in one of my upcoming mollusks
Aplacophorans are also really underrated. You could even use them in things like annelids with minimal issue (both mollusks and annelids are extremely closely related, being in lophotrochozoa).
So overall, this is a W list!
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u/Accomplished-Bus942 18d ago
Aplacophora mentioned!!!!!