''Dendrofissurella'' is a monotypic
genus of minute deepwater keyhole
limpet
Limpets are a group of aquatic snails that exhibit a conical shell shape (patelliform) and a strong, muscular foot. Limpets are members of the class Gastropoda, but are polyphyletic, meaning the various groups called "limpets" descended indep ...
s,
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusks in the
family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets and slit limpets.
Taxonomy
''Dendrofissurella scutellum'' is the sole species in this genus. However, two geographic subspecies are recognized :
* ''Dendrofissurella scutellum hiantula''
( Lamarck, 1822) (synonyms : ''Fissurella hiantula'',
Lamarck, 1822; ''Fissurellidea hiantula'',
Sowerby II, 1862; ''Amblychilepas scutellum hiantula'',
Kilburn and Rippey, 1982; ''Fissurella incarnata'',
Krauss, 1848; ''Fissurellidea incarnata'',
Sowerby II, 1862; ''Megatebennus'' (section ''Amblychilepas'') ''incarnata'',
Pilsbry, 1890; ''Fissurellidea incarnata maculata'',
Turton, 1962;'' Fissurellidea multilineata'',
Turton, 1932 ; ''Fissurellidea albanyana'',
Turton, 1932; ''Fissurellidea nigrostrigata'',
Turton, 1932)
* ''Dendrofissurella scutellum scutellum''
(Gmelin Gmelin may refer to:
* Gmelin's test, a chemical test
* Gmelin database, a German handbook/encyclopedia of inorganic compounds initiated by Leopold Gmelin
People
* Carl Christian Gmelin (1762–1837), German botanist, author of ''Flora Badensis ...
, 1791) (synonyms : ''Patella scutellum'',
Gmelin, 1791; ''Fissurella scutellum'',
Krauss, 1848; ''Megatebennus'' (section ''Amblychilepas'') ''scutellum'',
Pilsbry, 1890: ''Fissurellidaea scutella'',
Turton, 1932; ''Amblychilepas scutella'',
Barnard, 1963; ''Amblychilepas scutellum'',
Kensley, 1973; ''Amblychilepas scutellum scutellum'',
Kilburn and Rippey, 1982; ''Fissurellidea sella'',
Sowerby II, 1862; ''Megatebennus'' (section ''Amblychilepas'') ''sella'',
Pilsbry, 1890)
As is shown by the many synonyms, it has taken a long time to recognize that this species (composed of these two subspecies) belongs in its own genus.
Distribution
This species occurs in the
Cape Province of South Africa. ''D. scutellum scutellum'' is found on the colder, temperate Atlantic coast while ''D. scutellum hiantula'' is found to the east, along the warmer temperate coastline.
Description
''Dendrofissurella'' is closely associated with''
Amblychilepas'' and ''
Medusafissurella'' with which it shares
radula
The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...
r and shell characters.
The body of ''Dendrofissurella scutellum'' is larger than the shell. The anterior part of the shell is narrower than the rest. Both ends of the shell are somewhat raised. The
sculpture of the shell shows fine radial ribs. The
mantle folds only slightly envelop the edge of the shell. The
apical opening (''foramen'') is elongate-oval and situated almost in the center. The foot extends behind the shell with a length larger than the shell. The foremost part of the foot (''propodium'') is elongated by a single, tapering trunk with approximately nine lateral branched that are irregularly placed. This character sets ''Dendrofissurella'' apart from ''Amblychilepas'' and ''Medusafissurella''.
The large outer lateral tooth of the
radula
The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...
is quadricuspid ( = with four cusps).
References
* Vaught, K.C. (1989). ''A classification of the living Mollusca''. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). . XII, 195 pp
Branch, G.M. et al. (2002). ''Two Oceans''. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5256750
Fissurellidae
Gastropods described in 1986