Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies of Radula of the Dog Conch Strombus canarium (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Strombidae)

The radula has been recogonised as an important morphological criterion for the taxonomic allocation of species. The radula in general vary within a subclass that of prosobranch gastropods. The scanning Electron microscope (SEM) is one of the powerful tool in the studies of radula. In the present study the structural morphology of Strombus canarium radula were photographed on an scanning Electron microscope. The radula of S. canarium is typically of taenioglossate type with one median tooth flanked by one pair of lateral tooth and two pairs of marginals on each side (7 teeth per row). The lateral tooth is hook-shaped and curved inwards towards the central tooth. In taenioglossan snails, the radular formula is 2+1+1+1+2. The length of the radular ribbon measured 18 mm in S. canarium. The radula consists of seven teeth in each row, but each of these teeth has a distinctive shape and a specific number of tiny cusps on edges. The tooth in the centre is called center teeth or rachidian (R) teeth. Beyond each lateral, there is an inner marginal and outer marginal. It is obviously observed in the radula of herbivorous animals.