Diet and radular morphology of<i>Peristernia</i>and<i>Latirolagena</i>(Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae) from Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Abstract

The diets of six species of the fasciolariid gastropod Peristernia together with Latirolagena smaragdula are described from Indo-Pacific coral reef habitats. The Peristernia species feed mainly upon tubiculous polychaetes and sipunculans, with gastropods, barnacles and tunicates as minor items. Chaetopterid polychaetes are a common prey item of several species. Latirolagena smaragdula feeds upon vermetid gastropods. All species have a radula with comb-like, multicuspate, lateral teeth. Those of Peristernia have both large and small cusps with great variability in cusp pattern between teeth in sequential rows.