Melanoides tuberculata, (MULLER, 1774)

Strong, Ellen E., 2011, More than a gut feeling: utility of midgut anatomy in phylogeny of the Cerithioidea (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162 (3), pp. 585-630 : 612

MELANOIDES TUBERCULATA (MÜLLER, 1774)

Material examined

Australia: NSW: Cudgen Lake ( AM C.337978).

Description

Marginal fold S-shaped ( Fig. 17A ), terminating at posterior tip of sorting area; oesophageal aperture at tip of marginal fold recurved segment; sorting area broad, rectangular, with broadly rounded posterior margin; left margin of sorting area with slight bulge; accessory marginal fold extending from oesophageal aperture, around posterior margin of sorting area, with slight posterior median depression, intersecting short, slightly curving fold posteriorly at left; small, rounded sorting area pad present at left posterior end of sorting area; anterior flap and crescentic pads lacking; glandular pad elongate, flaring posteriorly with broadly rounded posterior end; broad, paired digestive gland ducts opening at left of glandular pad to deep pocket; crescentic ridge long, emerging from oesophageal aperture, curving around posterior end of glandular pad, fusing to side of pad just behind gastric shield, slightly within shallow caecum; caecum extending roughly halfway to midline of pad; paired, elongate caecal folds present at right of glandular pad, behind caecum; very large, textured accessory pad present at anterior end of glandular pad; U-shaped fold present below style sac aperture at left; typhlosoles fused along entire length.

Remarks

Described by Simone (2001: figs 177, 178), showing the rectangular sorting area, large, rounded glandular pad, and prominent gastric shield. Simone (2001) considered the coarse cuticularized folds at the anterior end of the gastric chamber roof to be part of the sorting area. The crescentic ridge was described as lacking or posteriorly fused to the glandular pad, which may have been based on a pathological specimen, as this configuration of the crescentic ridge has never been seen in any thiarid examined (E. E. Strong, pers. observ.).

Figures

Figure 17. Midgut anatomy of Thiaridae. A, Melanoides tuberculata (AM C.337978). B, Stenomelania denisoniensis (USNM 1083388). C, Tarebia granifera (USNM 1143357). D, Thiara cancellata (USNM 1143358). Scale bars: 1.0 mm; refer to the text for a list of anatomical abbreviations.