Akiko Okusu

Ultrastructural Analysis of Scaphopod Shells



My project is to cladistically analyze species from 12 families of Class Scaphopoda (Phylum Mollusca), incorporating analysis of shell ultrastructural characteristics and molecular data. SEM is used to look for species specific pattern variations. This image is a section of the posterior end of the shell of Cadulus aberrans and illustrates two distinct layers; the outer prismatic and inner cross lamellar layers.