Sexually dimorphic radular morphology in Euplica varians and E. versicolor (Neogastropoda : Columbellidae)

Abstract

Radular morphology in two species of Euplica (Gastropoda : Neogastropoda : Columbellidae) was investigated for the occurrence of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism was found to occur in these columbellid species, as it does in some species of muricids, with adult males having tooth modifications including differences in cusp shape, larger tooth size in one species and more tooth rows in both. The functional significance of the dimorphism is unknown.