Description of the radula of buccinanops globulosus (Neogastropoda, Nassariidae) and an assessment of its variability in northern Patagonian gulfs

Abstract

The variation observed in the number of cusps (rachidian and laterals) and in height of central rachidian cusps among and within populations of B. globulosus do not involves the general radular morphology. These differences appear to be size related, as shown by the positive relationships found between these variables and total shell length. Despite size differences between sexes no sex-related differences were found in the radular variables. Morphometric radular differences among the studied populations are clearly related to their variation in size. Differential growth rates observed in B. globulosus may be influenced by many factors, including food availability, presence of predators, and temperature. We conclude that B. globulosus is homogeneous for radula characteristics; only size related differences were found among populations. This interpopulation uniformity in the radula supports the idea that the studied populations, despite the great variation in life history traits, would not represent different species.