FAMILY : JANTHINIDAE
Janthina janthina Linne 1758

This species spends its entire life cycle(holeopelagic) at the oceans surface, attached by the foot to a raft of mucus covered bubbles. It is carnivorous, preying on pelagic Cnidarians such as Porpita sp, Velella velella and Physalia sp(Bluebottle). This is the largest and commonest species found on Australian beaches but has an almost worldwide distribution.

© All images Copyright 2007 Denis Riek. All rights reserved.