Morphology and formation of jaw structures in some gastropod species

The gastropod feeding apparatus originally comprises the radula and jaws. While the radula has been extensively studied, data on jaws remain limited. Nevertheless, investigating jaw morphology is essential for understanding feeding mechanisms and morphofunctional adaptations. This study addresses this gap by presenting novel data on jaw morphology across a range of gastropod species from various clades, including Vetigastropoda, Littorinimorpha, and Neogastropoda. Based on our data and previously published research, we propose the existence of two distinct types of jaws: simple and complex. Simple jaws (found in the majority of Patellogastropoda and some Neogastropoda) consist of solid plates, whereas complex jaws (found in Vetigastropoda, Caenogastropoda, and Heterobranchia) are composed of both a solid homogeneous layer and a layer of solitary structures, such as rods or hooks, referred to as rodlets (as in some heterobranchs). Electron microscopy data enabled us to homologize the complex jaws of Vetigastropoda and Caenogastropoda. The jaws of representatives from both subclasses exhibit a similar synthesis mechanism, in which a single gnathoblast synthesizes an individual rodlet. The jaws of Neogastropoda and Tonnoidea display considerable diversity, both in their localization within the buccal complex and in their morphology, ranging from paired smooth or complex structures to highly modified structures acting as a stylet. Furthermore, the varied localization of jaws in neogastropods suggests a high potential of the buccal epithelium for the formation of diverse jaw structures.