Summary
Taxonomy
Physical Description
Ecology
Life History & Behaviour
Anatomy & Physiology
Torsion and the mantle cavity
Nervous system
Sensory systems
Reproduction
Internal transport
Feeding mechanisms
Digestive system
Respiration
Excretion
Foot anatomy
Evolution & Systematics
Conservation & Threats
References & Links |
Sensory Systems
The eyes, tentacles, statocyst and osphradia that can be found on the head makes up the sensory system of C. Parthenopeum. The species have spherical, well-developed eyes that have closed pigment-cups complete with a lens, cornea and retina. These are situated at the base of the cephalic tentacles. The cephalic tentacles in gastropods all function as chemoreceptors and possibly have additional functions such as mechanoreception in the studied species, although more research have to be carried out to confirm this. Closed vesicular statocysts are located in pairs in the foot in close proximity to the pedal ganglia. However, this arrangement does not mean that they are connected to the pedal ganglia. They are instead innervated to the cerebral ganglia. They have a fluid-filled structure which is lined with ciliated epithelial sensory hair cells. A calcareous statolith located in the middle of this capsule enables the animal to know its orientation by the weight of the statolith resting on the corresponding surface of cilia. The osphradium in prosobranch gastropods are highly evolved and have been suggested to correspond closely to the evolution of the gill. Due to their predatory nature, the osphradium have evolved into a complex, bipectinate structure with expanded surface area that closely resembles the gills. This allows them to detect their prey from long distances and also to monitor the water around the environment (Ruppert et al., 2004). |
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