Shell Length and Preparation and Examination of Radulae
festiva--copulatory spicules and radula--by comparing them with isolated radulae
and copulatory spicules of D.
fornicata larger snails had proportionally shorter radulae
with disproportionally fewer rows of teeth than smaller animals.
On the basis of differences in size and morphology of radulae
and observations of animals in situ, the two Rubyspira species appear to differ in how they feed.
were obtained by excision of the buccal mass which was then macerated in dilute NaOH.
The sequential nature of this mineralization process makes chiton and limpet radulae
highly useful as models for the study of matrix-mediated biomineralization, as each phase of mineral deposition can be observed in a single specimen.
gordensis was uncertain because of the high variability of the type species, corroded condition of the material from Peru, and distance from the type locality; no illustrations of shells or radulae
from Peru were provided.
Illustrations of chilodontid radulae
were given by Troschel (1879, Euchelus), Hutton (1883, Herpetopoma), Odhner (1917, Hybochelus), Thiele (1924, Euchelus, Danilia and Granata), Cotton (1946, 1959, Granata and Herpetopoma), McLean (1970, Mirachelus), Olsson (1971, Turcica), Beu & Climo (1974, Danilia), Quinn (1979, Mirachelus) and Guidastri et al.
were then transferred to scanning electron microscope (SEM) stubs, laid flat with the teeth upward, and allowed to air dry before sputter coating with platinum for SEM observations.
have not been isolated for illustration; the radular teeth have either been drawn as part of a histological section or reconstructed from sectioned material.
Figures of radulae
given by Orr-Maes (1967) appear to show no obvious differences between the two genera (figs 4G, H and I, representing respectively Pseudodaphnella granicostata (Reeve, 1846) (as Philbertia (Pseudodaphnella) granicostata, Pseudodaphnella rubroguttata (H.
The basic pattern of most radulae
consists of several to numerous transverse rows of radular teeth with bilateral symmetry relative to the main axis, supported by a thin radular membrane.