Rostanga dentacus
- Radula
PHOTO
From Figure 26. Rostanga dentacus, radular morphology of Hong Kong specimen, AM C139173. A, Central region and inner right lateral teeth; B, mid-lateral teeth on right side; C, outermost right lateral teeth; Scale bar = 20 µm. Photos: G.J. Avern. [Rudman, W.B. & Avern, G.J. (1989). The genus Rostanga Bergh, 1879 (Nudibranchia: Dorididae) in the Indo-West Pacific. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 96: 281-338.]
Return to Rostanga dentacus.
The innermost lateral tooth has a triangular base and a long recurved pointed blade with a row of 12-15 long narrow pointed denticles down the whole of the inside edge. There are no outer denticles (Fig A). All other teeth have a small triangular base and a long narrow needle-like blade. Tooth 2 is approximately twice the length of the innermost tooth and by the outer laterals the teeth are nearly four times the length. In two specimens there is no sign of outer denticulation on any of the lateral teeth but in a third specimen (AM C139173) some of the innermost laterals have two or three minute denticles about half way down the outside edge of the blade, and similar denticles are seen on the outside of the inner lateral teeth (Figs A, B). By the mid -lateral teeth there is one small, but distinct, pointed denticle and this gradually lengthens so that the outermost lateral teeth have a relatively long pointed outer denticle joined to the tooth about one-third of the way from the tip (Fig C). The jaw plates are relatively small and not well-developed consisting of two to three rows of short and misshapen rodlets).
The radular formula of three specimens are:
62.0.62 x 34 (+ 1) - 8 mm alive AM C118061
49.0.49 x 46 (+ 1) - 6 mm preserved AM C139173
36.0.36 x 37 (+ 1) - 5 mm preserved AM C139172
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (February 5) Rostanga dentacus - Radula. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/rostdentrad
