Three-dimensional reconstruction of the odontophoral cartilages of Caenogastropoda (Mollusca: Gastropoda) using micro-CT: Morphology and phylogenetic significance.

摘要: Odontophoral cartilages are located in the molluscan buccal mass and support movement of radula during feeding. The structural diversity odontophoral is currently known only from limited taxa, but this information important for interpreting phylogeny understanding biomechanical operation mass. Caenogastropods exhibit a wide variety feeding strategies, there little comparative on cartilage morphology within group. caenogastropod dissection histology, although preliminary results suggest that they may be structurally diverse. A morphological survey 18 caenogastropods three noncaenogastropods has been conducted, sampling most major superfamilies. Three-dimensional models were generated using X-ray microscopy (micro-CT) reconstruction by image segmentation. Considerable was found Caenogastropoda, including presence thin cartilaginous appendages, asymmetrically overlapping cartilages, reflexed margins. Many basal taxa possess previously unidentified structures below (subradular cartilages), which homologous to dorsal other gastropods. As subradular absent carnivorous caenogastropods, adaptation trophic specialization likely. However, incongruence with specific strategies or body size suggests constrained phylogeny, representing new source characters improve phylogenetic resolution J. Morphol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.