Studies on the pedal gland and pedal epithelium of the protobranchiate bivalvia

TL;DRAbstract

The morphology and secretory functions of the pedal glands of eight species of protobranch bivalves were examined using light microscopy. The morphology of the gland varies among species. It is entirely absent in Acila castrensis, Yoldia hyperborea, and Y. limatula. Nuculana taphria has a reduced, and apparently nonfunctional vestige of a gland. Functional glands are found in Solemya velum, Ennucula tenuis, Portlandia arctica, and P. lenticula. Glands are most likely used to reduce friction between the bivalve's foot and the substratum into which they burrow. The resulting pedal mucous gland data were incorporated into a cladistic analysis of the bivalve Subclass Protobranchia. While there is a pressing need for identification of additional characters for incorporation into the analysis, it appears that the protobranch pedal gland is a potentially useful taxonomic character, and merits further investigation. The ultrastructure of the epithelium from three regions of the foot of the awn

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