How many species of Scaphopoda are there?
350 species
Scaphopods are infaunal organisms and feed on foraminiferans and other interstitial prey. Approximately 350 species occur from the intertidal zone to depths in excess of 7000 m and are present in all the major oceans.
What are examples of Scaphopoda?
Dentaliidae
DentaliidaGadilida
Tusk shell/Lower classifications
What is the common name for Scaphopoda?
tusk shells
Integrated Taxonomic Information System – Report
| Common Name(s): | tusk shells [English] |
| scaphopodes [French] | |
| dentálio [Portuguese] | |
| scafópode [Portuguese] | |
| Taxonomic Status: |
What organism is tusk shell?
Tusk shell, also called elephant’s tusk, elephant’s tooth, or tooth shell, any of several marine mollusks of the class Scaphopoda. Tusk shells feed upon such small organisms as protozoans of the order Forminifera and young bivalves.
Does Scaphopoda have visceral mass?
There are three distinct body zones, including a head-foot, a visceral mass, and a mantle (Brusca and Brusca, 2003; Giribet et al., 2006; Wilbur et al., 1985). Body wall: The tissue is covered by a flexible body wall termed the mantle, but also known as a pallium (Brusca and Brusca, 2003).
Do Scaphopoda have gills?
External morphology of the Scaphopoda. Foot morphology is variable and has been used as a taxonomic character. The pattern of water circulation through the scaphopod mantle cavity is also unique among the molluscs, because water both enters and exits through the small dorsal aperture. Scaphopods also lack gills.
Where are Scaphopoda found?
ocean bottoms
Habitat: They burrow in soft ocean bottoms at depths down to about 6,600 feet (2,000 meters). Diet: Tusk shells eat all kinds of microscopic organisms, but prefer foraminiferans.
What are the characteristics of class Polyplacophora?
The main characteristics of Polyplacophora include (1) elongate or oval, dorsoventrally flattened, bilaterally symmetrical, marine; (2) with dorsal shell of eight plates embedded in a tough mantle; (3) mantle-edge stiffened (called the girdle); (4) large, muscular, ventral foot (girdle and foot can act as suction cup); …
Does Scaphopoda live in freshwater?
In the sea, they range from the deepest parts of the ocean to the intertidal area. They can live in freshwater as well as on land.
Does Scaphopoda have mantle?
Mantle. The mantle of a scaphopod is entirely within the shell. The foot extends from the larger end of the shell, and is used to burrow through the substrate.
Which Mollusca is look like tusk of elephant?
Dentalium
Since, Dentalium has elephant tusk shaped structure, they are also known as tusk shells.
What does the scientific name Scaphopoda stand for?
The scientific name Scaphopoda means “shovel foot,” a term that refers to the “head” of the animal, which lacks eyes and is used for burrowing in marine mud and sediments. The most distinctive feature of scaphopods is that the tubular shell is open at both ends, not just one end as in most molluscs.
What kind of shells are in the Scaphopoda?
Scaphopods past and present: At left is a collection of fossil scaphopod shells from the Miocene of Baluchistan, Pakistan. A fragmentary shell can be seen end-on at the right side of the image. The photo at right displays two kinds of living species: the top specimen is Dentalium laqueatum, the Reticulated Tuskshell.
Where does the Scaphopoda live in the ocean?
Scaphopods live their adult lives buried in sand or mud, with their head end pointed downwards. Only the narrow posterior end of the shell sticks up into the seawater for water exchange and waste expulsion.
What are the closest relatives of scaphopods?
Despite their unusual features, it is generally believed that the closest relatives of scaphopods are the bivalves. Like scaphopods, bivalves have a retractile foot which they use to burrow. They also share the reduced head and attachment pattern to their shell.