Abstract
Scanning electron microscopy was employed to study the ultrastructure of the magnetite-bearing cap in mature tricuspid teeth of four chiton species: Lepidochitona cinerea, Mopalia muscosa, Katharina tunicata, and Cryptochiton stelleri. The cap is composed of parallel rod-shaped units. In the part that leads in the cutting direction there are two sets of intersecting structural units. In the trailing part a single set of units occurs. The construction of the cap in relation to its function is discussed.
The geometry and character of minerals in young mineralizing teeth of Cryptochiton stelleri were studied by transmission and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Ferrihydrite is the first mineral species formed during the mineralization process. It is precipitated in clusters of elongate, parallel crystals. Next, magnetite crystals appear along the edges of the ferrihydrite clusters. During further growth the magnetite crystals enlarge, whereas simultaneously the ferrihydrite crystals gradually disappear. It is discussed that the mineralization process proceeds in tubular compartments with walls composed of organic materials, which develop into the rod-shaped units constituting the magnetite-bearing cap in mature teeth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Carefoot, T.H., 1965, Magnetite in the radula of the Polyplacophora, Proc. Malac. Soc. Lond. 36:203–212.
Lowenstam, H.A., 1962, Magnetite in denticle capping in recent chitons (Polyplacophora), Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 73:435–438.
Lowenstam, H.A., 1972, Phosphatic hard tissues of marine invertebrates: Their nature and mechanical function, and some fossil implications, Chem. Geol. 9:153–166.
Mann, S., Perry, C.C., Webb, J., Luke, B., and Williams, R.J.P., 1986, Structure, morphology, composition and organization of biogenic minerals in limpet teeth, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B227:179–190.
Nesson, M.H., 1969, Studies on radula tooth mineralization in the Polyplacophora, Ph.D. Thesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
Nesson, M.H., and Lowenstam, H.A., 1985, Biomineralization processes of the radula teeth of chitons, in: Magnetite Biomineralization and Magnetoreception in Organisms, J.L. Kirschvink, D.S. Jones, and B.J. MacFadden, eds., Plenum, New York.
Towe, K.M., and Bradley, W.F., 1967, Mineralogical constitution of colloidal “hydrous ferric oxides”, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 24: 382–392.
Towe, K.M., and Lowenstam, H.A., 1967, Ultrastructure and development of iron mineralization in the radular teeth of Cryptochiton stelleri (Mollusca), J. Ultrastruct. Res. 17:1–13.
Van der Wal, P., 1989, Structural and material design of mature mineralized radula teeth of Patella vulgata (Gastropoda), J. Ultrastruct. Molecular Struct. Res., in press.
Van der Wal, P., Videler, J.J., Havinga, P., and Pel, R., 1989, Architecture and chemical composition of the magnetite-bearing layer in the radula teeth of Chiton olivaceus (Polyplacophora), in: Origin, Evolution and Modern Aspects of Biomineralization in Plants and Animals: Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Biomineralization, Arlington, Texas, 1986, R.E. Crick, ed., Plenum, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van der Wal, P. (1991). Structure and Formation of the Magnetite-Bearing Cap of Polyplacophoran Tricuspid Radular Teeth. In: Frankel, R.B., Blakemore, R.P. (eds) Iron Biominerals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3810-3_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3810-3_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6699-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3810-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive