What is the radula in bivalves?

What is the radula in bivalves?

It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the esophagus. The radula is unique to the molluscs, and is found in every class of mollusc except the bivalves, which instead use cilia, waving filaments that bring minute organisms to the mouth.

What is the function of the radula?

The radula is the organ for mechanical food processing and an important autapomorphy of Mollusca. Its chitinous membrane, embedding small radular teeth, is moved by the set of muscles resulting in an interaction with the ingesta, tearing it and collecting loosened particles.

What is the rasping tongue in mollusks called?

The hard rasping, tongue-like organ found in most Molluscs is called the: radula.

What is a radula Polyplacophora?

Summary. The major lateral radula teeth of chitons (Mollusca:Polyplacophora) are one of the hardest and most wear resistant biomineralized tissues known to date. Their hierarchical architecture makes ingenious use of magnetite and a variety of other biominerals.

Where is a radula?

mouth
Most Mollusks (with the exception of bivalves) have a specialized feeding organ within the mouth called the radula. The mouth opens into a pocket-like buccal cavity. Inside this cavity is the radula sac which protects the mouth when the radula is not in use.

What is a radula in mollusks?

The radula is the anatomical structure used for feeding in most species of Mollusca. Previous studies have revealed that radulae can be adapted to the food or the substrate the food lies on, but the real, in vivo forces exerted by this organ on substrates and the stresses that are transmitted by the teeth are unknown.

How do bivalves feed?

The large gills filter food from the water and direct it to the labial palps, which surround the mouth. Food is sorted and passed into the mouth. Bivalves have the ability to select food filtered from the water.

What is radula and where it is found?

The radula is a rasping organ involved in feeding. It is present in the phylum Mollusca. Further reading: Coelom.

What is mollusk radula?

What is meant by rasping organ?

What does Rasping mean? Answer: In specific, rasping implies grating or scraping and other related terms. Likewise, the Mollusca rasping organ is a flexible tongue-like organ that is used for scraping or cutting the acquired food, with rows of teeth on the surface.

What is the common name for Polyplacophora?

Polyplacophora

What does a radula look like?

As for the radula itself. it is a ribbon-like structure covered with many denticles (tiny teeth). It is movable over the odontophore and is also controlled by muscles. The feeding behavior of marine snails include some that are herbivores, detritus (debris) feeders, scavengers and predatory carnivores.