ISSN:
1432-234X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary 1. The Buccal, radular, and venom apparatus morphology and histology of Oenopota levidensis are described. This is the first report on the functional morphology of the turrid radular sac, the first report on the functional morphology of a north Pacific turrid gastropod, and the first histological study of these structures in the Turridae, in which they are highly modified in connection with the envenomation of prey. 2. The rhynchodaeum is similar to that in Oenopota Curricula, except that the rhynchodaeal sphincter is placed more posteriorly. 3. The proboscis of O. levidensis is intraembolic and similar to, but simpler than the proboscis of O. Curricula and Mangelia attenuata. 4. The Buccal tube, Buccal sac, and Buccal cavity correspond quite closely to O. turricula, except that O. levidensis has a. much larger buccal sphincter. 5. The salivary glands are paired and each has a duct that enters the buccal sac. They may function in removing cellular debris from the lumen of the tooth just prior to use. They may also function to initiate digestion, or to lubricate swallowed prey. 6. The radula is highly modified in the typical toxoglossan manner. It lacks a radular ribbon and a subradular membrane. Evidence is presented, and hypotheses are proposed to explain tooth formation. The teeth are most likely formed by odontoblast cells using a cell possibly of inferior epithelial origin as a template. This internal cell may also secrete the base of the tooth and its remnants may constitute the ligament. The tooth appears to undergo a chemical change in the radular sac that may be caused by secretions from the superior epithelium. The tooth may move down the radula supported by epithelial cells which are fastened to the ligament by interdigitating processes. 7. The venom apparatus is quite typically toxoglossan, very similar to Conus, and to the other turrids that have been studied, Lora, Mangelia, Oenopata, Philbertia, and Polystira. 8. The oesophagus is largely an unmodified wide tube as in other turrids.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00280739
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