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OBSERVATIONS ON THE TOXOGLOSSAN GASTROPOD MANGELIA BRACHYSTOMA (PHILIPPI)
Author(s) -
ROBINSON ELIZABETH
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1960.tb05850.x
Subject(s) - anatomy , duct (anatomy) , proboscis , biology , body cavity , sucker , salivary gland , biochemistry
The proboscis of Mangelia is a highly specialized and modified organ involving a terminal sucker and an additional permanent sheath within the proboscis sac which has been named the supporting sheath. Its structure can be derived from the condition seen in the Conidae by supposing that the folds formed during the retraction of the proboscis in these animals become lengthened to form one single permanent fold in Mangelia . The anterior part of the alimentary canal and the organs associated with it are similar to those found in the Conidae, and include a highly coiled poison gland which opens ventrally into the oesophagus immediately posterior to the opening of the buccal sac. It is pointed out that the poison gland is the coiled tube and that the swollen proximal end of the gland is a non‐glandular propulsive organ, the muscular bulb, and that the true poison gland duct is a short distal passage joining the tubular gland to the buccal cavity. The frequently stated belief that the poison gland is derived from the gland of Leiblein is discussed and the possibility that it represents the ventral salivary glands is mentioned. The absence of a pedal sucker and of the ventral pedal gland is noted. The genital ducts are described and found to conform to the general plan seen in the Stenogloasa.