Question

What is Radula?

Answer 1

Hint: The radula is exclusively found in the molluscs and is found in each class of mollusc except the bivalves, which instead uses cilia, waving filaments that bring minute organisms to the mouth. Within the gastropods, the radula is used by both herbivorous and carnivorous snails and slugs to feed food.

Complete answer:
The radula is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, which is also sometimes compared to a tongue. The radula is present in the buccal cavity of a mollusc. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, that is usually used for scraping or cutting food. Within the gastropods, the radula is used in feeding both by herbivorous and carnivorous snails and slugs. The arrangement of teeth(denticles) on the radular ribbon considerably differentiates from one group to another. In most of the more ancient lineages of gastropods, the radula is functioned as to graze, by scraping diatoms and other microscopic algae off rock surfaces and other alternative substrates.

The radula is a member of the phylum Mollusca. Molluscs are soft-bodied with no internal skeleton and can be enclosed in a hard shell for protection. Mollusca is the second largest phylum. They have an unsegmented bilateral body, and are oviparous. And fertilise indirectly. Due to the function of shedding of food by the Radula, they are also acting as a rasping organ.

Note: The morphology of the radula is related to diet. However, the morphology of molluscs is not fixed for each species; as because some molluscs can adapt the form or shape of their radular teeth according to the food sources which are available in a large amount. Every row of radular teeth contains:-One central or median teeth (or rachidian tooth, rachis tooth), On both sides of the row it has: one or more lateral teeth, and then at the end of the row it has-one or more marginal teeth.