SCATOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE BIVALVIA (MOLLUSCA)
317
(Moore, 1931) ; and in Brachiodontes citrinus they have a median longitudinal groove on both surfaces (Manning and Kumpf, 1959). There is
some localization of the contents ; coarse material is concentrated in the
centre, with finer material marginally.
Pellet-type 11. Pellet of indeterminate shape
This type of pellet is probably common to all of the carnivorous
septibranchs. It has very soft and loose consistency, thus being of a
flocculent and irregular shape which may be associated with the microcarnivorous habit peculiar to this order,
Pellet-type 1 la. Disjointed particles
This type of faeces is reported to occur in Phlyctaenachlamys lysiosquillina, a commensal member of the Erycinacea (Gastrotetartika), by
Popham ( 1939).
C. Descriptions of faecal pellets
I. PROTOBRANCHIA (GASTROPROTEIA)
Moore (1931 and 1933) has studied the faeces in Nucula (Nuculidae)
in detail and has figured those of Nuculana (Nuculanidae). With few
exceptions, the pellets of the members of this order consist of grooved
rods (Pellet-types 6, 7, 7a and 7 b ) . They are shed as a long rod of compact detritus with longitudinal grooves characteristic in number,
position and depth for different species.
Nuculidae
According to Moore (1931), the nuculids pass faecal pellets unlike
those of other bivalves. They are characterized by the possession of a
series of longitudinal grooves (Fig. 3). This may be due to a peculiar
1
-
A
B
C
D
E
Fig. 3. Cross-sections of sculptured faecal rods of the genera, Nuculana and Nucula;
A. Nuculana minuta; B. Nucula m o o r e i ; C. N . t u r g i d a ; D. N . e u l c a t a ; E. N .
nucleus (after Moore, 1931, 1933 and 1939).
internal structure of the gut which has thickened longitudinal ridges
with long cilia, varying in position and in number from five to seven
or to nine according to the species (Pellet-types 7, 7a and 7 b ) .
317
(Moore, 1931) ; and in Brachiodontes citrinus they have a median longitudinal groove on both surfaces (Manning and Kumpf, 1959). There is
some localization of the contents ; coarse material is concentrated in the
centre, with finer material marginally.
Pellet-type 11. Pellet of indeterminate shape
This type of pellet is probably common to all of the carnivorous
septibranchs. It has very soft and loose consistency, thus being of a
flocculent and irregular shape which may be associated with the microcarnivorous habit peculiar to this order,
Pellet-type 1 la. Disjointed particles
This type of faeces is reported to occur in Phlyctaenachlamys lysiosquillina, a commensal member of the Erycinacea (Gastrotetartika), by
Popham ( 1939).
C. Descriptions of faecal pellets
I. PROTOBRANCHIA (GASTROPROTEIA)
Moore (1931 and 1933) has studied the faeces in Nucula (Nuculidae)
in detail and has figured those of Nuculana (Nuculanidae). With few
exceptions, the pellets of the members of this order consist of grooved
rods (Pellet-types 6, 7, 7a and 7 b ) . They are shed as a long rod of compact detritus with longitudinal grooves characteristic in number,
position and depth for different species.
Nuculidae
According to Moore (1931), the nuculids pass faecal pellets unlike
those of other bivalves. They are characterized by the possession of a
series of longitudinal grooves (Fig. 3). This may be due to a peculiar
1
-
A
B
C
D
E
Fig. 3. Cross-sections of sculptured faecal rods of the genera, Nuculana and Nucula;
A. Nuculana minuta; B. Nucula m o o r e i ; C. N . t u r g i d a ; D. N . e u l c a t a ; E. N .
nucleus (after Moore, 1931, 1933 and 1939).
internal structure of the gut which has thickened longitudinal ridges
with long cilia, varying in position and in number from five to seven
or to nine according to the species (Pellet-types 7, 7a and 7 b ) .