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Condensing lenses and shell microstructure in Corculum (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

J. G. Carter  and
J. A. Schneider
J. G. Carter
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27599-3315
J. A. Schneider
Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, 48109-1079
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Abstract

The microstructure of the non-window portions of the shell of Corculum cardissa resembles other Fraginae, with predominantly fibrous prismatic outer, branching crossed lamellar middle, and complex crossed lamellar inner layers. Both the anterior and posterior windows in its shell reflect reduced pigmentation and incursion of the outer shell layer, but the posterior windows involve deeper incursion plus reduction of the outer and middle sublayers of the outer shell layer and microstructural modification of the middle shell layer to enhance light transmission. The planoconvex shape of the posterior windows has more likely evolved to direct and focus light toward the deeper, zooxanthellae-rich gills and anterior mantle, than to merely disperse light.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , January 1997 , pp. 56 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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