THE MORPHOLOGY, ULTRASTRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE FEEDING APPARATUS OF SAYELLA FUSCA (C.B. ADAMS, 1839) (GASTROPODA: PYRAMIDELLIDAE)

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy in conjunctionwith histology and dissection were employed to investigate theforegut anatomy of Sayella fusca (C.B. Adams, 1839), a commonNew England pyramidellid snail. Certain aspects of the feedingapparatus of S. fusca, including the buccal pump and proboscisanatomy, depart from the characteristic pyramidellid plan. Somedifferences such as the position of the introvert/proboscisaperture and the common oral and stylet canal are shared withthe genera Turbonilla, Eulimella, and Pyramidella. Three characteristicsof the feeding apparatus are unique to S. fusca: (1) the buccalpump is not divided into two pouches but exists as a singlemuscular bulb; (2) the entire lumen of the buccal pump, notsimply a portion of it, possesses a cuticular lining; and (3)the salivary ducts never enter the muscular walls of the buccalpump. Histological studies of the salivary gland indicate thatthree types of secretory cells are intermittently distributedthroughout the entire gland rather than characterizing distinctregions as described for other members of the family Pyra-midellidae.In contrast to previous findings, the gland cells of S. fuscaexhibit a merocrine secretion. The taxonomic value of the buccalpump and proboscis morphology are discussed. ^*Present address: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard,Post Office Box 369–370, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528USA. (Received 9 November 1993; accepted 1 October 1997)