THE BIOLOGY OF WOOD-BORING TEREDINID MOLLUSCS
345
the observation of Turner (1966) that the characters of the organ
systems, as well as of the shell and pallets may be used in taxonomy
and phylogeny, there is imperative need for more accurate information
about the morphology and anatomy of as many species as possible.
The morphological studies of Sellius (1733) and Adanson (1765)
established the taxonomic status of these long, cylindrical and almost
naked bivalves and cleared the confusion regarding their position among
invertebrates. One of the most notable studies on the anatomy of
shipworms is that of Sigerfoos (1908) who worked on Bankia gouldi.
Earlier workers like Deshayes (1848) and Quatrefages (1849), studied
teredine anatomy but the exact identity of the species they worked on
is doubtful. Subsequent to the work of Sigerfoos, Nair (1955, 1957a,
1964) investigated in detail the anatomy of Bankia indica (=B.
carinata according to Dr Ruth Turner). Potts (1923) described the
structure and function of the " liver ') of Teredo. Lazier (1924) gave an
account of the morphology of the digestive tract of Teredo navalis.
Yonge (1926) examined the detailed structure and suggested the
function of the digestive diverticula of Teredo along with other lamellibranchs. A general account of the anatomy of certain organ systems
of Bankia (Bankielkz) minima has been published by Bade et al. (1961,
1963-64). The most comprehensive work undertaken so far on the
gross morphology of representative species of the Teredinidae is undoubtedly that of Turner (1966) who undertook an elaborate survey of
the gross structure of several species for taxonomic purposes. This
work was based on dissections of the animal. No sectioning or histological studies were attempted owing to absence of suitably preserved
materj al.
Thus information about the general anatomy of the genus Bankia is
fairly complete through detailed studies on 2 species. There is some
information about the anatomy, especially of certain organ systems of
the genus Teredo (Potts, 1923; Lazier, 1924; Yonge, 1926; Miller, 1922,
1923, 1924; Coe, 1933, 1934, 1936; Grave and Smith, 1936; Coe, 1941;
Purchon, 1941; Grave, 1942; Coe, 1943; Lane, 1959; Bade et al., 1961,
1963-64). Recently Saraswathy (1967) made detailed studies of the
structure of Nausitora hedleyi Schepman, Teredo fwrcifera Martens and
Teredora princesae (Sivikis) .
Unlike other bivalves, shipworms have a soft, vermiform body
(Fig. 1) which gives them a resemblance to worms. They are highly
specialized bivalves, adapted for boring into wood and the bivalve
shell has lost its protective function and become an effective drilling
tool. Despite their unique appearance their close relatives are the
piddocks with which they are grouped under the sub-family Pholadinae
345
the observation of Turner (1966) that the characters of the organ
systems, as well as of the shell and pallets may be used in taxonomy
and phylogeny, there is imperative need for more accurate information
about the morphology and anatomy of as many species as possible.
The morphological studies of Sellius (1733) and Adanson (1765)
established the taxonomic status of these long, cylindrical and almost
naked bivalves and cleared the confusion regarding their position among
invertebrates. One of the most notable studies on the anatomy of
shipworms is that of Sigerfoos (1908) who worked on Bankia gouldi.
Earlier workers like Deshayes (1848) and Quatrefages (1849), studied
teredine anatomy but the exact identity of the species they worked on
is doubtful. Subsequent to the work of Sigerfoos, Nair (1955, 1957a,
1964) investigated in detail the anatomy of Bankia indica (=B.
carinata according to Dr Ruth Turner). Potts (1923) described the
structure and function of the " liver ') of Teredo. Lazier (1924) gave an
account of the morphology of the digestive tract of Teredo navalis.
Yonge (1926) examined the detailed structure and suggested the
function of the digestive diverticula of Teredo along with other lamellibranchs. A general account of the anatomy of certain organ systems
of Bankia (Bankielkz) minima has been published by Bade et al. (1961,
1963-64). The most comprehensive work undertaken so far on the
gross morphology of representative species of the Teredinidae is undoubtedly that of Turner (1966) who undertook an elaborate survey of
the gross structure of several species for taxonomic purposes. This
work was based on dissections of the animal. No sectioning or histological studies were attempted owing to absence of suitably preserved
materj al.
Thus information about the general anatomy of the genus Bankia is
fairly complete through detailed studies on 2 species. There is some
information about the anatomy, especially of certain organ systems of
the genus Teredo (Potts, 1923; Lazier, 1924; Yonge, 1926; Miller, 1922,
1923, 1924; Coe, 1933, 1934, 1936; Grave and Smith, 1936; Coe, 1941;
Purchon, 1941; Grave, 1942; Coe, 1943; Lane, 1959; Bade et al., 1961,
1963-64). Recently Saraswathy (1967) made detailed studies of the
structure of Nausitora hedleyi Schepman, Teredo fwrcifera Martens and
Teredora princesae (Sivikis) .
Unlike other bivalves, shipworms have a soft, vermiform body
(Fig. 1) which gives them a resemblance to worms. They are highly
specialized bivalves, adapted for boring into wood and the bivalve
shell has lost its protective function and become an effective drilling
tool. Despite their unique appearance their close relatives are the
piddocks with which they are grouped under the sub-family Pholadinae