Foot as burrowing organ, Biology

Assignment Help:

Foot as Burrowing Organ

The Scaphopoda that usually have burrowing habit, possess foot suitably modified for burrowing purpose. The conical and protrusible foot of Dentalium is trilobed at its distal end. It can be thrust into the sand while burrowing occurs. A lobe encircling the cone can be erected to increase its anchorage. In between burrowing bivalves, in some like Pholas which bores into rock the blunt, short foot is employed for boring. They attach by the sucker-like surface of the foot; the muscles of the foot produce several movements producing the requisite cutting force; the anterior ends of the valves give the sharp cutting edge. The shipworm Teredo bores into wood using more or less similar mechanism. In Yoldia, the two sides of the foot can be folded to make a wedge shape for easy burrowing into the sand or mud. In some burrowing gastropods, for example Sigaretus , the anterior part of the foot, called protopodium, is as well specialized to become wedge like. The burrowing action in molluscs is typically accomplished through thrusting the blade of the foot into the sand or mud. The distal part of the foot is dilated along with the aid of protractor muscles and when this is accompanied by blood pressure it acts like an anchor. Contraction of the retractor muscles now pulls the animal downward.


Related Discussions:- Foot as burrowing organ

Define major structures of chloroplasts, Q. What are the major structures o...

Q. What are the major structures of chloroplasts? Chloroplasts are involved by two membrane layers the inner and the outer membranes. Inside the organelle the formative unit is

Function of dopamine in consciousness, Q. Function of Dopamine in conscious...

Q. Function of Dopamine in consciousness? An increase in dopamine activity produces an increase in wakefulness. Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental areas are constant

Zoonotic diseases, Zoonotic Diseases The term zoonosis (zoonoses, plura...

Zoonotic Diseases The term zoonosis (zoonoses, plural) was coined by Rudolf Virchow to describe the disease transmitted from animal to man and vice versa. Zoonoses have been de

Scope of user charges, Normal 0 false false false EN-IN...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Hemoglobins - process of respiration, Hemoglobins - Process of Respiration ...

Hemoglobins - Process of Respiration Hemoglobins are the very well known of all respiratory pigments. The basic molecular unit of Hemoglobin contains a haem group bound to a

Explain the principle of alkaline copper reduction method, Explain the Prin...

Explain the Principle of alkaline copper reduction method? All sugars which contain a free aldehyde group undergo enolization when placed in hot alkaline solution. This propert

What are the functions of insulin and glucagon, What are the functions of i...

What are the functions of insulin and glucagon for the blood glucose control? Glucagon enhances glycemia and insulin reduces it. They are antagonistic pancreatic hormones. Gluc

Explain theory of evolution through natural selection, Explain Theory of Ev...

Explain Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection The third theory of evolution through natural selection was put forward jointly by Darwin, and Wallace in 1859. This theor

Difference between cryptogamic and phanerogamic plants, What is the differe...

What is the difference among cryptogamic and phanerogamic plants? Cryptogamic (hidden sex organs) plants are those that do not show flowers or seeds. They comprise the bryophy

What is the spontaneous generation hypothesis, What is the spontaneous gene...

What is the spontaneous generation hypothesis? The spontaneous generation hypothesys, or abiogenesis, asserts that life on earth has come from nonliving material. For instance,

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd