Abstract: The macroanatomy of the tentacular head of Phascolosoma arcuatum belongs to phylum Sipuncula has been studied under light microscopic methods and computer aided graphics analysis. The tentacular head structure has been reconstructed using computer aided graphics analysis using series histological images on computer aided software platform. The P. arcuatum has only five, semitransparent, pigmented, lobed tentacles in tentacular crown with large tentacular coelomic connections. We found that the tentacles are lined by ciliated columnar epithelium with large number of mucosecretory cells, indicating their deposit feeding habit. Fewer number of tentacles, body wall and there burrowing habit supports there integumentary breathing habit. A thick striated collar encircles the tentacles forming the ventral wall of the mouth channel and protects tentacles from mechanical damage when retracted. These structural peculiarities revealed from macroanatomical analysis are strongly suggestive about the important role of the collar region of the tentacular crown of the head of P. arcuatum in relation to its burrowing habit to its concern habitat.
Keywords: Phascolosoma arcuatum, Deposit feeding, Tentacular Introvert, Anatomical modeling.
Title: Macroanatomy and 3-dimensional modeling of the tentacular head of Phascolosoma arcuatum (Grey, 1828)
Author: Biplab Mahata, Amalesh Choudhury, Subrata Kumar De
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
Vol. 6, Issue 3, July - September 2018
Page : 294-298
Publisher: Research Publish Journals
Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 20-August-2018
