Pe. Gibbs et al., THE COMPOSITION OF PHOSPHATE GRANULES IN THE DIGESTIVE GLANDS OF MARINE PROSOBRANCH GASTROPODS - VARIATION IN RELATION TO TAXONOMY, Journal of molluscan studies, 64, 1998, pp. 423-433
The composition of some 1150 phosphate granules in the digestive gland
s of over 40 species of marine prosobranch gastropods has been surveye
d using a simple preparation technique and semiquantitative SEM x-ray
microanalysis. Spectral peaks for Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn were compar
ed to that of P. Four major types of phosphate granule can be recognis
ed, each generally characteristic of a taxonomic grouping: high Mg in
archaeogastropods and littorinids, multiple metal in higher mesogastro
pods, and, in neogastropods, Mg-Ca in muricoideans and high Zn in bucc
inoideans. At least one Conus species (C. ventricosus) has high-Mg gra
nules. Some causes of variation in granule composition are discussed:
speculatively, it is suggested a palaeoenvironmental influence seems p
ossible.