Lodderena minima, (Tenison-Woods, 1887)

Haszprunar, Gerhard, Kunze, Thomas, Brückner, Martin & Heß, Martin, 2016, Towards a sound definition of Skeneidae (Mollusca, Vetigastropoda): 3 D interactive anatomy of the type species, Skenea serpuloides (Montagu, 1808) and comments on related taxa, Organisms Diversity & Evolution (New York, N. Y.) 16 (3), pp. 577-595 : 588-589

Anatomy of L. minima (Tenison-Woods, 1887)

The anatomy of this species resembles those of the true skeneids; thus, only a short description with a focus on differences is provided.

As in the skeneid species, the ESOs are attached to the ventral basis of the first papillate epipodial tentacle. There are two shell muscles. The mantle cavity is provided with a monopectinate ctenidium, and the leaflets of which lack respiratory zones, but are equipped with skeletal rods and bursicles. Right of the rectum, there is a large hypobranchial glands consisting of several types of large mucous cells. Two kidneys are present; the right one also releases the gametes via a urogenital opening.

However, the genital system shows significant differences to the skeneid species: there is a true hermaphroditic gland and the large and yolky eggs are provided with a thin vitelline layer. A copulatory organ is absent and a receptaculum is lacking.

The gut resembles that of skeneids. The jaws with rod-like elements are delicate, the long radular sheath shows a large loop and the two pair of radular cartilages are slender. The anterior oesophagus lacks significant oesophageal pouches, shows torsion and enters ventrally into the large stomach, which is equipped with toothed gastric shield and tooth and two separated digestive glands. The intestine again shows a longitudinal rim, and the rectum runs through the heart and makes a large loop along the mantle roof.

Conditions of the nervous system do not differ from those of the skeneid species. However, the eyes show closed vesicles and pigment. The osphradium is large, and the statocysts contain several tiny statoconia.