DENTALIUM SHELL

SHELLS FULLY OPALISED

NATURAL PC

PICTURE TAKEN WET

COOBERPEDY AUSTRALIA

  These tusk shells are a kind of seashell, specifically the shells of scaphopod mollusks. The name “dentalium” is based on the scientific name for the genus Dentalium, but because the taxonomy has changed over time, not all of the species used are still placed in that genus;

The shell’s former inhabitant, Dentalium entalis, is a member of a further mollusc class, the Scaphopoda. Similar to mussels, scaphopods are generally sessile animals living on or better in the ocean floor. Biology calls this a benthic form of life, in contrary, for example, to the pelagic life of swimming animals. Scaphopods live from the shoreline until a depth of 7,000 m (21,000 ft.). 

Two orders of scaphopods are known: Dentaliida and Gadilida, different mainly in shell form and radula type. The Dentaliida are thought to be the phylogenetically older group of the about 600 known scaphopod species 

tshells can often be found that belong to an animal that looks roughly like an elephant’s tusk, which it is therefore colloquially called.  this shell, however, is open on both ends. Most often, besides, it is much smaller in size, ranging between 2,5 and 12 cm (1 to 5 in.).

The shell’s former inhabitant, Dentalium entalis, is a member of a further mollusc class, the Scaphopoda. Similar to mussels, scaphopods are generally sessile animals living on or better in the ocean floor. Biology calls this a benthic form of life, in contrary, for example, to the pelagic life of swimming animals. Scaphopods live from the shoreline until a depth of 7,000 m (21,000 ft.).

Watching a living scaphopod you will usually see nothing more than the rear third of the shell. The scientific name literally means boat-foot animals, referring to the foot’s shape resembling a boat. A scaphopod’s foot is made for digging the animal into the ocean floor. To do so, the animal pushes its foot into the ground, anchors it by pressing blood into it and then pulls in the rest of the shell.

Tusk Shells

Scaphopoda

Scaphopods – popularly known as tusk shells - form a distinctive class of marine molluscs characterised among other things by their curved, open-ended shells. The head and foot of the animal can protrude from the wider aperture of the shell, whereas the digestive, respiratory and reproductive organs are always contained within the shell. The entire animal can retract into the shell if disturbed. All scaphopods live buried in sand or mud. The foot digs to help find food (such as tiny invertebrates) and tiny tentacles secure these food items for the radular-teeth of the mouth. At rest, oxygen-containing water is drawn into the narrow end of the shell for the gills. Although some species may reach 140mm in shell length, most species are less than 20mm long and many of these are as tiny as a rice grain. Tusk shells are not often seen living, and several inhabit water as deep as 2000 metres. Australia has approximately 106 species of scaphopod known to date or about 20% of the world total (500-600 species).