The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 03 (of 10)Cooke, A. H. (Alfred Hands)
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 03 (of 10)
Cooke, A. H. (Alfred Hands)
Animals
(_d_) _Ptenoglossa._--This section consists of two families only,
which certainly appear remarkably dissimilar in general habits
and appearance, _viz._, the Ianthinidae and Scalariidae. In all
probability their approximation is only provisional. The radula,
which in _Ianthina_ is very large, and in _Scalaria_ very small,
possesses an indefinite number of long hooked teeth, of which the
outermost are the largest. The central tooth, if present (it does not
occur in _Ianthina_), is the smallest in the series, and thus recalls
the arrangement in some of the carnivorous _Pulmonata_ (p. 232). In
_Ianthina_ the radula is formed of two large divisions, with a gap
between them down the middle.
The formula is ∞.1.∞ or ∞.O.∞ according as the central tooth in
_Scalaria_ is or is not reckoned to exist.
(_e_) _Gymnoglossa._--In the absence of both jaw and radula it is
not easy to classify the two families (Eulimidae and Pyramidellidae)
which are grouped under this section. Fischer regards them as modified
Ptenoglossa; one would think it more natural to approximate them to the
Taenioglossa.
[Illustration: FIG. 129.--Portion of the radula of _Margarita
umbilicalis_ Brod., Labrador. × 75 and 300.]
(_f_) _Rhipidoglossa._--This section consists of seventeen families,
the most important being the Helicinidae, Neritidae, Turbinidae,
Trochidae, Haliotidae, Pleurotomariidae, and Fissurellidae. The radula
is characterised by--
(1) The extraordinary development of the uncini, of which there are so
many that they are always reckoned as indefinitely numerous. They are
long, narrow, hooked, and often cusped at the top, and crowded together
like the ribs of a fan, those at the extreme edge not being set
straight in the row, but curving away backwards as they become smaller;
in _Solariella_ alone, where there are from five to ten, can they be
counted.
[Illustration: FIG. 130.--Portion of the radula of _Nerita
albicilla_ L., Andaman Is., with central tooth highly magnified:
_c_, _c_, the capituliform tooth. × 40.]
(2) The varying number of the laterals. The average number of these
is five on each side; in some cases (_Livona_) there are as many as
nine, in some (_Neritopsis_) only three. The lateral next to the uncini
(which is specially large in the Neritidae, and is then known as the
_capituliform_ tooth) is regarded by some authorities as the first
uncinus, by others as the sole representative of the laterals, the
teeth on the inner side of it being reckoned as multiplied central
teeth. According to this latter view, _Livona_ will have as many
as seventeen central teeth. Taking five as the average number of
‘laterals,’ we shall have the following different ways of constituting
the rhipidoglossate formula, the first being that to which preference
is given, _viz._:--
(1) ∞.5.1.5.∞, _i.e._ one central, five laterals, including
the ‘last lateral’ tooth.
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