Species Profile
Dentalium
Tusk shell
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassScaphopoda
OrderUnknown
FamilyUnknown
Introduction
Dentalium inhabits sandy and muddy sea floors.
It feeds on microscopic organisms.
It is important in benthic ecosystems.
Size & Structure
01
Small tubular body
02
Tusk-like shell
03
Shell open at both ends
04
Captacula for feeding
Dentalium — 3D Model
General Features
- Coelom
- Eucoelomate (reduced)
- Body plan
- Tube within a tube body plan (Protostomous)
- Germ layer
- Triploblastic
- Metamerism
- Absent
- Body symmetry
- Bilateral symmetry
- Fertilization
- External
- Digestion type
- Complete, extracellular
- Nervous system
- Ganglionic
- Excretory organ
- Metanephridia
- Body temperature
- Poikilothermic, stenohaline
- Circulatory type
- Open circulation, single
- Development type
- Indirect
- Respiratory type
- Diffusion through mantle
- Mode of excretion
- Ammonotelism
- Circulation system
- Open
- Skeleton structure
- Exoskeleton (tubular shell)
- Level of Organisation
- Organ-system level
- Regulation of Osmosis
- Osmoconformer
Ecology
Sediment aeration
Detritus feeder
Benthic food web role
Economic Importance
Used in research
Shells used as ornaments
Evolutionary importance