Bulla (gastropod)


Bulla is a genus of medium to large hermaphrodite sea snails, shelled marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. These herbivorous snails are in the order Cephalaspidea.
These snails are popularly known as "bubble snails" because the shell of some of the species is very inflated indeed, almost spherical in shape, and is also very thin and light.
According to some experts, Bulla is currently the only genus in the family Bullidae, which in turn is the only member of the superfamily Bulloidea.
In addition to its taxonomic interest, Bulla — particularly Bulla gouldiana — has served as an important model organism in circadian biology research, where it has been used to investigate circadian rhythms, photoentrainment, and the neural basis of biological timekeeping, contributing to the broader understanding of biological rhythms and neural systems.

Taxonomy

Bulla, Haminoea and Smaragdinella form the well-defined monophyletic group Bulloidea, according to the 1996 phylogenetic analysis of Paula M. Mikkelsen. But, according to Dr. Bill Rudman and others, differences in the alimentary canal and reproductive system, still put Haminoea and Smaragdinella into the separate superfamily Haminoeidea.
Historically, since the 18th century and even in the 20th century, the genus name Bulla has been used for a great number of bubble-shelled species that belonged to the order Cephalapsidea. From the mid-20th century, authors began to restrict species to the genus Bulla in its current meaning. But misidentifications were still numerous through high levels of intraspecific variability in the shell, radula and male genital system. The monograph by Malaquias & Reid has offered a systematic revision of this genus and has brought order in this genus

Anatomy

Shell description

All Bulla species have large, ovate external shells, which are large enough to accommodate the whole snail when retracted. All species have rather similarly shaped shells. The shells have a deep, narrow umbilicus at the apex. There is no operculum.
The smooth shell of Bulla is ovate and expanded, with a deep, sunken involute top. Since there is little difference between the shells and in the morphology of the radular teeth, there is some uncertainty about the exact taxonomy of the species in Bulla.

Anatomy of the soft parts

The gizzard of Bulla is rather different from that of other herbivorous groups. It has three large corneous crushing plates and ancillary corneous spines, instead of just grinding plates. The crawling snails show prominent, frilled or lobed parapodia.
Bulla species have a soft radula.

Life habits

These snails are mostly nocturnal and can be found on shallow, sandy coasts grazing among sea grasses, feeding primarily on green algae. They bury themselves in mud when the tide is out.

Predators

In the coastal lagoons and bays of California, the colorful nudibranch Navanax inermis is a well-known predator of sea slugs, especially Bulla gouldiana, which it envelopes whole.

Synonyms

In addition to the above, there are a substantial number of names in Bulla that apply to the species Akera bullata, including Bulla akera, Bulla norwegica, Bulla canaliculata, Bulla resiliens, Bulla fragilis, Bulla hanleyi, Bulla elastica, Bulla farrani, ''Bulla globosa''