Definition of radula in English:
radula
nounPlural radulae ˈradjʊləˈrædʒələ
Zoology (in a mollusc) a structure of tiny teeth used for scraping food particles off a surface and drawing them into the mouth.
Example sentencesExamples
- In some chitons, the radula has teeth tipped with magnetite, which hardens them.
- Threadlike cilia-bearing tentacles probe for food, such as forams, detritus, and even the occasional buried bivalve, and bring it to the mouth where a large radula grinds it up.
- Once the prey is snared it is bitten with strong beak-like jaws and pulled into the mouth by the radula.
- Most mollusks use the radula to break up food, but the cone snail uses it to inject venom.
- The correct characterization of fossil taxa is difficult as specimens are missing many important features necessary for an accurate identification, particularly protoconchs and radulae.
Derivatives
adjective
Zoology It is significant that a minority of ammonites and incirrate octopods have radular teeth of this type, or exhibit much size dimorphism.
Example sentencesExamples
- Major interneurons fire cyclically during feeding in the radular retraction phase of the protraction/retraction cycle and drive many other retraction neurons.
- Based on radular and soft-tissue morphology and personal observation of feeding behaviors, it appears that species from both regions feed suctorially with the assistance of a diminutive radula.
- The main argument for the molluscan nature of Kimberella remains thus its association with putative radular marks proposed by Seilacher.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Latin, literally 'scraper', from radere 'to scrape'.