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Foregut anatomy and relationships of the Crassispirinae (Gastropoda, Conoidea)
... The radula of several specimens of each species was examined and proved to be nearly identical in both tooth shape and relative size of marginal teeth. Very similar teeth are found in a number of Pseudomelatomidae, in additional Crassispira species, Miraclathurella bicanalifera and others (Kantor, Medinskaya & Taylor, 1997). Thus, in this and many other cases, the radular morphology of Pseudomelatomidae is of little taxonomic value at the species level. ...
... Pleurotoma bottae was synonymized with Crassispira incrassata (G.B. Sowerby I, 1834) by McLean in Keen (1971) and the animal was studied anatomically by Kantor et al. (1997). ...
Crassispira cerithina (Anton, 1838) is a common shallow water conoidean gastropod species, broadly distributed
throughout the Indo-West Pacific. It has a distinctive shell morphology and has been referred to in
many publications. It is also the first species of its family to have been studied from the viewpoint of toxinology.
However, our molecular phylogenetic analysis based on fragments of the COI and 28 S rRNA
genes reveals the existence of two closely related distinct species, one of which is described as new (C. scala
n. sp.). These two species are sympatric in several regions of the Indo-Pacific—in the Philippines, Papua
New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. They can be reliably distinguished by shell morphology and
thus cannot be considered truly cryptic species. The radula is very similar in both species and does not permit
species delimitation. A conchological reappraisal of further material similar to C. cerithina allows us to
recognize two additional species, which are described as new (C. procera n. sp. from the Coral Sea and
Philippines, and C. aurea n. sp. from Tahiti). These results demonstrate that even ‘well-known’ and seemingly
well defined species may be species complexes and that molecular techniques should be routinely
applied to confirm specimen identification, especially as part of resource-consuming studies, such as
toxinology.
... As a group they are heterogeneous for characters other than those that define the Crassispirinae and consistent in that they lack the combination of characters that narrowly define each of the other genera in the subfamily. Numerous subgenera have been erected to impose some order, and some have argued for the elevation of the subgenera to genus level (e.g., Kantor et al., 1997). The more traditional practice of including them all in Crassispira is followed here because subgeneric assignment is still provisional for many species. ...
Notes, supplemental or new descriptions, and illustrations are provided for nine small, less than 10 mm in height crassispirine turrids in the genus Crassispira Swainson, 1840, subgenera Monilispira Bartsch and Rehder, 1939 and Dallspira Bartsch, 1950 of the tropical northwestern Atlantic. Most are relatively unknown because of the unavailability of quality figures and adequate descriptions; one is previously undescribed. This group has been a source of confusion to workers attempting to identify material collected in recent decades. Each is treated systematically, including synonyms, description, variability in form, distinguishing characteristics, and geographic range. Species in the subgenus Monilispira include Crassispira mayaguanaensis, new species, C. latizonata (E.A. Smith, 1882), C. nigrescens (C.B. Adams, 1845), C. elatior (C.B. Adams, 1845), C. verbernei de Jong and Coomans, 1988, C. pellisphocae (Reeve, 1845), and C. guildingii (Reeve, 1845). Species in the subgenus Dallspira include C. flavocincta (C.B. Adams, 1850), C. fuscocincta (C.B. Adams, 1850), and C. bandata (Usticke, 1969). A few notes are made regarding C. fuscocincta; however, this species is still an enigma because no specimen has been acquired for comparative study.
... In the outgroup Cochlespira and some Crassispirinae (Kantor et al., 1997), muscle fibers present in the rhynchodeal wall indicate some degree of contractile function. This state is not found among terebrids, of which the inner rhynchodeal wall is practically only a muscleless membrane. ...
A phylogenetic study of the Terebrinae (Molluscs, Caenogastropoda, Terebridae) based on species from the Western Atlantic. J. Comp. Biol. 3(2):J37-150. Terebrine characters, including shell and foregut features and other structures arc discussed. A phylogenetic analysis was performed, using as terminal taxa the best known species, mainly from the Western Atlantic-Hastula cincrca (Born); H. hastata (Gmelin); Terebra gcmmulata Kiener; T. crassircticula Simone; T. leptapsis Simone; T. brasiliensis Smith; T. spirosulcata Simone & EM. Costa; T. taurina Lightfoot; T. dislocata (Say) (this latter species is redescribed). Considering this sample of the subfamily Terebrinac and literature data, a ground plan of the subfamily is proposed and its monophyly discussed. A set of 44 characters (55 states) were cladisticly analyzed (3 of shell, 7 of head-foot, 9 of pallial organs, 2 of kidney, 10 of foregut, 3 of remainder digestive system, 10 of genital system), from which a single most parsimonious tree was obtained: ((H. cincrca + H. hastata) + (T. taurina + ((T. crassircticula + T. Icptapsis) + (T. spirosulcata + (T. geminulata + T. brasiliensis))))) (length 74; CI 70; RI 57). Terebrinae, Tcrcbra and Hastula are monophylctic. The terebrines are characterized, beyond the obvious shell characters, by the following-apomorphies: reduction of the cephalic tentacles, anterior end of the ctenidial vein prominent (without gill filaments), rhynchodcal introvert, and anus situated very posteriorly in the pallial cavity. Hastula synapomorphics include enlarged foot and complexity of osphradium filaments. Tcrcbra synapomorphics include the eye situated at the apex of the tentacles and a clear tendency for enlargement of the introvert, reduction of the proboscis and venom apparatus with their entire reduction in the last elements of the clade. The accessory proboscis structure is considered homoplastic in two cladcs of Tcrcbra, but may be a terebrid synapomorphy, since it is present in some spcies of Hastula, so it could have been secondarily lost in several species. Introduction The Terebridae is easily distinguished from the other two families of Conoidea by their elongated, multispiral shell. The superfamily Conoidea (= Toxoglossa) is characterized mainly by a modified foregut and the presence of a complex venom apparatus (Kantor, 1990). The classification and important characters of the shell, operculum and foregut are dealt with in an important paper by Taylor, Kantor & Sysoev (1993), who provide also a standardization of the anatomical terminology and a phylogenetic analysis. The foregut characters of the Terebridae have been focused by several recent papers (Miller, 1971; Taylor & Miller, 1990; Taylor, 1990). A list of the recent species of the world is given by Bratcher & Cernohorsky (1987). The classification of the Terebridae evolved little since Bruguiere (1789), who created the genus Terebra for the Linnaean species Buccinum subulatum. Forty-one terebrid genera and subgenera have been proposed (Wenz, 1938; Bratcher & Cernohorsky, 1987), but had little acceptance amongst malacologists, and now almost all species are included in Terebra. A synthesis of the present classification of the family is as follows (fossils not included): subfamily Pervicaciinae (about 25 species of the Indo-Pacific region), including Pervicacea Iredale, 1924 and Diplomeriza Dall, 1919 (= Duplicaria Dall, 1908; not Rafinesque, 1833); subfamily Terebrinae (worldwide), including Terebra (over 200 species) and Hastula H. & A. Adams, 1853 (about 30 species). The Brazilian terebrids were revised by Matthews et al. (1975). They were also considered in isolated papers (Marcus & Marcus, 1960; Bratcher & Cernohorsky, 1985; Auffenberg & Lee, 1988; Simone & Verissimo, 1995; Simone, 1999), some of them with anatomical data. In a larger project on the interrelationship of several groups of Caenogastropoda, each family or superfamily has been investigated. The main objective of this project is to provide morphological data for a phylogenetic analysis. The only phylogenetic study of the terebrids published to date is part of a larger analysis of the conoid (Taylor et al., 1993). The terebrids were represented in that study by seven species of Terebrinae and seven of Pervicaciinae. In the majority-rule (50%) consensus tree (Taylor et al., 1993:154)., 14 species are gathered in three terminal clades. The family itself has the following synapomorphies: (1) rhynchodeal
... Most taxonomists place all of the venomous neogastropod taxa in the single superfamily, Conoidea [24,25]. Though the efforts to subdivide the genus conus has found little support, the recently proposed alternative classification based on shell and radula [26], recognizing 4 families and 80 genera has found some acceptance. ...
The evolutionarily unique and ecologically diverse family Conidae presents fundamental opportunities for marine pharmacology research and drug discovery. The focus of this investigation is to summarize the worldwide distribution of Conus and their species diversity with special reference to the Indian coast. In addition, this study will contribute to understanding the structural properties of conotoxin and therapeutic application of Conus venom peptides. Cone snails can inject a mix of various conotoxins and these venoms are their major weapon for prey capture, and may also have other biological purposes, and some of these conotoxins fatal to humans. Conus venoms contain a remarkable diversity of pharmacologically active small peptides; their targets are an iron channel and receptors in the neuromuscular system. Interspecific divergence is pronounced in venom peptide genes, which is generally attributed to their species specific biotic interactions. There is a notable interspecific divergence observed in venom peptide genes, which can be justified as of biotic interactions that stipulate species peculiar habitat and ecology of cone snails. There are several conopeptides used in clinical trials and one peptide (Ziconotide) has received FDA approval for treatment of pain. This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of the distribution of cone shells and focus on the molecular approach in documenting their taxonomy and diversity with special reference to geographic distribution of Indian cone snails, structure and properties of conopeptide and their pharmacological targets and future directions.
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... These conoideans (which we will refer to as crassispirines or crassispirine snails) have generally been understudied and their toxinology is largely unknown. However, some crassispirine species were shown to possess hypodermic radular teeth, notably similar to those of cone snails (Kantor et al., 1997), suggesting a similar mechanism of prey envenomation. ...
A comparative histological study was undertaken to reveal the morphological diversity and systematic characters of a radula-supporting organ of gastropods. Observations on 33 species, all from different families, revealed six major morphological characters: (1) the number of odontophoral cartilages or radular bolsters: 0, 1 (fused), 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10; (2) histology categorized into 6 types based on the properties of cartilage matrix and cells; (3) the presence or absence of an enclosing membrane of the cartilages or radular bolsters; (4) the presence or absence of overlapping of the right and left cartilages or radular bolsters; (5) the closest position of the cartilages or radular bolsters to each other in cross section at ventral or dorsal side; and (6) the insertion areas of the ventral approximator muscle connecting the cartilages or radular bolsters - ventral, medial, or outer lateral area. Outgroup and ingroup comparisons based on recent phylogenetic hypotheses suggest the following evolutionary scenario for gastropod radula-supporting organs: the ancestral gastropod is assumed to have possessed two pairs of odontophoral cartilages with a thick matrix and ventrally connected by the approximator muscle. The cartilages have possibly independently increased in number in patellogastropods and Neritimorpha, decreased into a one pair, single piece or lost in Caenogastropoda, and replaced by connective tissue and muscle fibers in Heterobranchia. Some taxa such as Cypraeidae have gained a unique histology. The cartilages or radular bolsters are closest ventrally in cross section in the majority of gastropods but closest dorsally in part of the taenioglossate Caenogastropoda. The diversification of these character states in gastropods seems to be phylogenetically constrained, not ecologically.
The genus Strictispira [formerly Turridae, now Strictispiridae] in the western Atlantic area is reviewed. Two new species, S. redferni and S. coltrorum, are proposed. Crassispira quadrifasciata (Reeve, 1843) is reassigned to Strictispira. Three additional species - S. drangai (Schwengel, 1951), S. paxillus (Reeve, 1845), and S. solida (C. B. Adams, 1850) - are discussed. Drillia acurugata Dall, 1890, regarded as a Recent species as well as fossil and as a Strictispira, is shown to be fossil only, with Recent specimens considered to be that species here regarded as S. redferni. Similarly, Drillia ebenina Dall, 1890, initially a fossil species and often considered to be Recent and a synonym of S. solida, is shown to be fossil only. Recent specimens identified as S. ebenina are regarded as S. solida. Characteristics of the genus and species were studied, and are here described and illustrated, including shell morphology, opercula, and anatomy - especially foregut anatomy and radular structure. Comparisons are made with similar-appearing species, both within the genus and in other genera. The feeding mechanism of strictispirids is probably by ingestion aided by grasping of the prey by extruded radular teeth, followed by rasping and tearing of the prey by the teeth. The protoconch is paucispiral, indicating direct development. The genus has a western Atlantic distribution from the lower eastern Carolinian province to the Caribbean/West Indian province, including both sides of Florida, the Florida Keys, Mexico and Central America, the Greater Antilles, Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, lower Caribbean, and the Brazilian province.
Trophic polymorphisms are well known within vertebrate groups, such as fishes. Trophic polymorphisms enhance niche partitioning and speciation, and are characterized by several factors, including eating more than one prey type that may require more than one prey-capture method. Polymorphisms need not have slight morphologic differences within species rather they can have behavioral differences in capturing, killing, and eating prey. Differences in feeding behavior are the first stage in the evolution of morphological change, and then ultimately, speciation. This chapter shows that trophic polymorphisms in predatory gastropod groups that prey upon molluscs are common and, as a result, the taphonomic signature of their predatory behaviors is more diverse than previously recognized. Predator–prey dynamics are important in structuring paleocommunities, paleocommunity evolution, and for discerning morphological escalation. To fully understand the evolution of tropical predator–prey systems, a trace fossil approach that examines the full range of predatory forensic evidence recorded on skeletal hardparts, is warranted. A review and synthesis of ecological research on modern predatory gastropods feeding upon tropical molluscs indicates that trophic polymorphism is wide spread, and the potential trace fossil record as a result of trophic polymorphism is much more diverse than previously recognized.
New South African species of the endemic turrid genera Inkinga Kilburn, 1988, and Naudedrillia Kilburn, 1988, and the tropical Indo-Pacific genus Gemmula Weinkauff, 1875, are described. New species: Inkinga carnosa (family Drilliidae) and Naudedrillia hayesi (family Turridae, subfamily Crassispirinae) from the Agulhas Bank; Gemmula alwyni (family Turridae, subfamily Turrinae) from KwaZulu-Natal north to the Mozambique Channel.
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