Goodingia capillastericola


Goodingia capillastericola is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. This species, along with Goodingia varicosa belongs in the genus Goodingia and are crinoid-parasitic.

Description

G. capillastericola has an oblong, transparent, conical shell ending in a body whorl. It has a small operculum with a large proboscis. They have hermaphroditic reproductive systems. Due to their transparent shells, their soft flesh is visually exposed, demonstrating their characteristic white-and-brown striped patterning.
As veliger, they possess a well-developed head and a foot, and small velar lobes.
G. capillastericola differs from its congener, Goodingia varicosa, by having a rounder shell and a different position of its seminal vesicle in its hermaphroditic reproductive system, hence their inability to cross-reproduce.

Habitat

Goodingia capillastericola has been found in the Northern Red Sea, Japan, and Papa New Guinea. Specimens have been found attached to arms of the feather star Capillaster multiradiatus in coral reefs 2-2.5m deep. Specimens found in Japan and Papa New Guinea were found to be morphologically identical, but genetically distinct.