The foregut glands of vermivorous cone shells

Abstract

Salivary, snout, and secondary salivary glands are recorded in the foregut region of Conus Javidus, C. lividus, C. litteratus, C. miles, C. vexillum, and C. virgo. C. imperialis has a salivary gland only. The histology and histochemistry of these glands in C. Javidus and C, lividus is investigated. The salivary gland secretion consists of granules composed of polysaccharide and protein. The snout gland secretes sulphated acid mucosubstances. The secondary salivary gland secretion contains polysaccharide and protein. Protease activity was detected histochemically in the salivary gland, indicating that a function of this gland in Conus is the secretion of proteolytic enzymes into the short arm of the radular sac. The functions of the snout gland, which is peculiar to some species of Conus, and of the secondary salivary gland, which occurs sporadically throughout the Stenoglossidae, are not immediately apparent.