Mechanical property gradients of taenioglossan radular teeth are associated with specific function and ecological niche in Paludomidae (Gastropoda: Mollusca)

2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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The radula is the structure used for food processing in Mollusca. It can consist of a membrane with stiffer teeth, which is, together with alary processus, muscles and odontophoral cartilages, part of the buccal mass. In malacology, it is common practice to infer potential tooth functions from morphology. Thus, past approaches to explain functional principles are mainly hypothesis driven. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a workflow testing hypotheses on the function of teeth and buccal mass components and interaction of structures, which can contribute to understanding the structure as a whole. Here, in a non-conventional approach, we introduce a physical and dynamic radular model, based on morphological data of Spekia zonata (Gastropoda, Paludomidae). Structures were documented, computer-modelled, three-dimensional-printed and assembled to gather a simplistic but realistic physical and dynamic radular model. Such a bioinspired design enabled studying of radular kinematics and interaction of parts when underlain supporting structures were manipulated in a similar manner as could result from muscle contractions. The presented work is a first step to provide a constructional manual, paving the way for even more realistic physical radular models, which could be used for understanding radular functional morphology and for the development of novel gripping devices.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Function Of Radular Partsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From the knitting shop: the first physical and dynamic model of the taenioglossan radula (Mollusca: Gastropoda) aids in unravelling functional principles of the radular morphology

Krings

Karabacak

2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…hardness and Young's modulus) [e.g. 5,10,40,[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. Gradients in these properties can contribute to the functionality of a structure by e.g.…”

Section: Functional and Trophic Specialisations Of Radular Teethmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finite Element Analysis Relating Shape, Material Properties, and Dimensions of Taenioglossan Radular Teeth with Trophic Specialisations in Paludomidae (Gastropoda)

Krings

Marcé‐Nogué

2021

Preprint

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The radula, a chitinous membrane with embedded tooth rows, is the molluscan autapomorphy for feeding. The morphologies, arrangements and mechanical properties of teeth can vary between taxa, which is usually interpreted as adaptation to food. In previous studies, we proposed about trophic and other functional specialisations in taenioglossan radulae from species of African paludomid gastropods. These were based on the analysis of shape, material properties, force-resistance, and the mechanical behaviour of teeth, when interacting with an obstacle, which was previously simulated for one species (Spekia) by the finite-element-analysis (FEA) and, for more species, observed in experiments. In the here presented work, we test the previous hypotheses by applying the FEA on 3D modelled radulae, with incorporated material properties, from three additional paludomid species. These species forage either on algae attached to rocks (Lavigeria), covering sand (Cleopatra), or attached to plant surface and covering sand (Bridouxia). Since the analysed radulae vary greatly in their size between species, we additionally aimed at relating the simulated stress and strain distributions with the tooth sizes by altering the force/volume. For this purpose, we also included Spekia again in the present study. Our FEA results show that smaller radulae are more affected by stress and strain than larger ones, when each tooth is loaded with the same force. However, the results are not fully in congruence with results from the previous breaking stress experiments, indicating that besides the parameter size, more mechanisms leading to reduced stress/strain must be present in radulae.

Dynamical Numerical Model of the Molluscan Radula in its Interaction with the Substrate and Food Particles

Filippov

Kovalev

et al. 2023

Advcd Theory and Sims

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The radula, a chitinous membrane with teeth, is the molluscan autapomorphy for food gathering and processing. Even though this structure is studied for decades, the interplay between the structure and the particular food or/and the substrate remains mostly enigmatic. Here, we provide a numerical model approach to understand the relationship between structure, feeding efficiency, and partial work performed by the system. This first simple dynamic numerical radular model interacts with the food particles and the uneven substrate. This protocol can be applied to any system in the future, as the parameters (interaction between structures, adhesion, size of food particles, attachment angle of teeth to membrane, etc.) can be easily altered. This will shed light on the biomechanical adaptations of this feeding structure (e.g., wear and failure prevention) to the specific environment.