Camarodonta
Camarodonta is a suborder of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Neogastropoda. The group includes over 800 species in 48 families. The classification of this group has changed significantly in recent years, and the group has been reorganized by many authors in the early 21st century. Camarodonta is characterized by a number of features, including a radula with multiple rows of teeth, a siphon that is usually long and slender, and a shell that is often highly ornamented.
Common Names
Camarodonta has no common name, but it is often referred to as the camarodont or camarodontid group. This is due to the presence of camarodont teeth on the radula.
Characteristics
Camarodonts are generally medium-sized to large snails with a wide range of shell forms and colors. All members of this group are predatory and have a number of characteristics that reflect this lifestyle. They are distinguished from other neogastropods by the presence of a unique type of radula with numerous rows of teeth, including a central tooth that is usually large and pointed, and lateral teeth that are often serrate.
The radula is a ribbon-like structure located in the mouth of the snail. It is covered in tiny, hard teeth that are used to rasp food from surfaces and tear prey. In camarodonts, the radula is highly specialized for predation.
Camarodonts also have a siphon which is a long, slender tube that is used to draw in water and sense the presence of prey. The siphon is often very long and flexible, allowing the snail to reach into narrow crevices and burrows. The siphonal canal is usually a long opening on the shell through which the siphon is extended.
Another characteristic of camarodonts is their shell, which is typically thick and heavy. The shell often has a pronounced spire, which is the tapering, pointed part of the shell. The spire is often ornamented with ridges, spines, or nodules. These features provide protection from predators and also help to camouflage the snail in its surroundings.
Environments
Camarodonts are found in all oceans of the world, living in a variety of habitats. They are particularly abundant in tropical and subtropical waters. They can be found from the intertidal zone down to the deep sea.
References
- Bouchet, P., Rocroi, J.-P., Frýda, J., Hausdorf, B., Ponder, W., Valdés, Á. & Warén, A. (2005). Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia. 47 (1-2): 1–397. [researchgate.net]
- Ponder, W.F. & Waren, A. (1988). Classification of the caenogastropods and opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 94 (2): 89–164. [jstor.org]