SCAPHOPODA – Tusk Shells

Description:

 

Marine molluscs with a tapering, tubular, slightly curved tusk-like shell, that is open at both ends. The large end remains anchored in the sand by a cone shaped foot. Influent and outfluent streams take place at the narrow end. At the wider front end, a burrowing foot is generally extended.

The drawing of this thin shell, near bottom of page, shows its highly retractile, slender captacula. Like sticky fingers, secretions on the tips of the captacula pick up food particles for transfer to the mouth, which is deep inside the burrowing foot, at its anterior end (See Anatomy & Function).
About 350 species are known, most found in 6 meters or more of water, with a few species, only, found on shore. Cadula shells are typically 4 mm in length, whereas Dentalium shells up to 150 mm have been found off shore of Japan. Fossil species of Dentalium up to 300 mm, with a 30 mm diameter, are known. The shells are widely used for jewelry and are often massed in the beaded portions of  American Indian clothing decorations.

 

Classification

Class: Scaphopoda

Family: Dentaliidae

• Genus: Antalis
• Genus: Dentalium

Family: Siphonodentaliidae

• Genus: Siphonodentalium
• Genus: Cadulus
• Genus: Entalina

Family: Dentaliidae

Antalis agilis Antalis albatrossae Antalis antillaris Antalis ariannae Antalis boucheti Antalis cerata Antalis circumcincta Antalis dentalis Antalis entalis Antalis glaucarena Antalis inaequicostata Antalis inflexa Antalis longirostrum Antalis longitrorsa Antalis maestratii Antalis nana Antalis novemcostata Antalis panorma Antalis phanea Antalis porcata Antalis pretiosa Antalis rossati Antalis senegalensis Antalis taphria Antalis tibana Antalis vulgaris Antalis weinkauffi Coccodentalium carduus Compressidentalium compressiusculum Compressidentalium harasewychi Compressidentalium hungerfordi Compressidentalium legoffi Dentalium aciculum Dentalium aenigmaticum Dentalium agassizi Dentalium aprinum Dentalium bednalli Dentalium bisexangulatum Dentalium buccinulum Dentalium collinsae Dentalium congoensis Dentalium debitusae Dentalium elephantinum Dentalium grahami Dentalium hedleyi Dentalium javanum Dentalium laqueatum Dentalium majorinum Dentalium malekulaensis Dentalium mannarense Dentalium mutabile Dentalium neohexagonum Dentalium octangulatum Dentalium oerstedii Dentalium oryx Dentalium pluricostatum Dentalium regulare Dentalium rowei Dentalium strigatum Dentalium vallicolens Fissidentalium aegeum Fissidentalium amphialum Fissidentalium candidum Fissidentalium capillosum Fissidentalium complexum Fissidentalium exasperatum Fissidentalium horikoshii Fissidentalium kawamurai Fissidentalium levii Fissidentalium lima Fissidentalium magnificum Fissidentalium megathyris Fissidentalium metivieri Fissidentalium peruvianum Fissidentalium profundorum Fissidentalium salpinx Fissidentalium serrulatum Fissidentalium shoplandi Fissidentalium vicdani Fissidentalium yokoyamai

Family: Siphonodentaliidae

Bathycadulus fabrizioi Bathycadulus segonzaci Boissevainia mossiae Cadulus artatus Cadulus californicus Cadulus deschampsi Cadulus deverdensis Cadulus euloides Cadulus gibbus Cadulus gracilis Cadulus jeffreysi Cadulus labeyriei Cadulus lemniscoides Cadulus loyaltyensis Cadulus monterosatoi Cadulus nerta Cadulus ovulum Cadulus parvus Cadulus propinquus Cadulus rocroii Cadulus rossoi Cadulus subfusiformis Cadulus thallus Cadulus tumidosus Cadulus unilobatus Cadulus vincentianus Dischides belenae Dischides celeciai Dischides dichelus Dischides montrouzieri Dischides politus Dischides yateensis Gadila aberrans Gadila arctus Gadila austinclarki Gadila boucheti Gadila braziliensis Gadila brycei Gadila bushii Gadila celtica Gadila clavata Gadila desaintlaurentae Gadila divae Gadila dominguensis Gadila elenae Gadila elongata Gadila longa Gadila lozoueti Gadila monodonta Gadila nicklesi Gadila opportuna Gadila pandionis Gadila robusta Gadila sagamiensis Gadila senegalensis Gadila singaporensis Gadila tolmiei Gadila vanuatuensis Gadila watsoni Polyschides cayrei Polyschides cuspidatus Polyschides noronhensis Polyschides sakuraii Polyschides tetraschistus Polyschides tetrodon Polyschides wareni Sagamicadulus elegantissimus Siphonodentalium booceras Siphonodentalium dalli Siphonodentalium dalli antarcticus Siphonodentalium isaotakii Siphonodentalium