Polar pteropod [Ptychogastria polaris]
Description
The polar pteropod, Ptychogastria polaris, is a species of sea butterfly or pteropod. It is the only known species in the genus Ptychogastria. This marine gastropod is small, transparent, and gelatinous, with a body length up to 2 cm. It is found in Arctic and Antarctic waters, where it lives in the open ocean. It is primarily planktonic, spending its life floating in the sea currents. The polar pteropod has a small pair of wings which it uses to swim. It feeds on zooplankton, and is itself a source of food for various fish species.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Hydroids, Fire Corals, and Stinging Anemones
Hydrozoa
|
| Order |
Anthoathecata
Anthoathecata
|
| Family |
Ptychogastriids
Ptychogastriidae
|
| Genus |
Ptychogastria
Ptychogastria
|