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The Byssus and Byssus Glands in Chlamys islandica and Other Scallops (Lamellibranchia)
Author(s) -
GRUFFYDD LLŶR D.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1978.tb00611.x
Subject(s) - byssus , anatomy , duct (anatomy) , biology , groove (engineering) , materials science , mussel , ecology , metallurgy
The foot has at its proximal end, a pouch opening by a duct onto the sole of the foot containing 25–40 thin lamellae. The primary byssus gland secretes into the spaces between these lamellae. A secondary byssus gland secretes into a groove which runs forwards from the duct opening for about two‐thirds of the length of the foot. Polyphenoloxidase is produced by cells surrounding the distal end of this groove. The tip attachment gland secretes into the distal fissure at the tip of the foot. The sole of the foot and the neck of the duct are lined with mucus cells. Ribbons of byssus are produced by the primary byssus gland. These are spun out in the groove and attached directly to the substratum at the distal end of the groove in an area presmeared by the tip attachment gland. The ribbon is enveloped in the groove by a sheath produced by the secondary byssus gland. Subsequent ribbons are bound to the existing byssus by a new sheath. Both the tip attachment gland and the ribbons contain some phenolic protein which is probably tanned in the presence of polyphenoloxidase to form a bond with the substratum. The homologies between this system and that in Mytilidae is discussed.