Morphological adaptations and plasticity of radular teeth of the Sacoglossa (= Ascoglossa) (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) in relation to their food plants

Abstract

The radular teeth of 55 species of Sacoglossa (= Ascoglossa) (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) with known diets are classified into three basic groups: triangular, blade-shaped and sabot-shaped. Cell wall composition of the food plant is the single most important factor influencing radular morphology. The algae eaten by sacoglossans have either xylan, mannan or cellulose as their structural wall component. Sabot-shaped teeth are associated with diets of Siphonocladales and Cladophorales, which have cellulose cell walls of a 'crossed fibrillar texture'. Triangular teeth with lateral denticles are associated with diets of Caulerpa or with calcified algae. Most of these have xylan as the major structural polysaccharide. Blade-shaped teeth occur in a large number of species representing a wide variety of diets. It is proposed that the three types of teeth function in different manners. Tooth denticulation is correlated with functional group of the food plant. The radular teeth of Elysia viridis feeding on Codium are longer, wider and have more curved tips than teeth of E. viridis feeding on Chaetomorpha . The teeth of E. viridis transferred from Codium to Chaetomorpha in the laboratory change in shape as well as size.