Date:         Sat, 7 Jul 2001 11:24:24 EDT
Reply-To:     Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sender:       Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Paul Mikkelsen <Pbcerm@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Resilifer definition
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Not to confuse the issue, although it may...
     For many years I have been (and still am) compiling my own (still not
comprehensive) "Illustrated and Cross-referenced Glossary of Malacological
Terms".  The following are a few entries extracted from it.

CHONDROPHORE - A pit or spoon-like shelf in the hinge of a bivalve, such as
Mactra, and into which fits a chitinous cushion or resilium;  see also:
LIGAMENT PIT; RESILIFER.

LIGAMENT PIT - Relatively broad depression in cardinal area for attachment of
ligament in bivalves;  see also: CHONDROPHORE.

LITHODESMA - A calcareous reinforcement of an internal ligament; = OSSICLE
and OSSICULUM.  Characteristic of some genera of the Anomalodesmaceae.

RESILIFER or RESILIIFER - The socket-like structure (fossette or
chondrophore, depending on shape) that supports the internal ligament in
certain bivalves.

RESILIUM - An internal ligament, irrespective of composition ("cartilage" of
earlier authors), in a resilifer and under compressional stress;  see also:
LITHODESMA;
TENSILIUM.

TENSILIUM - The outer band of the ligament, composed of conchiolin but
without lime, usually with a conchoidal fracture, it is horny and tensional.


Hope these help, and are correct.
Comments/corrections welcome!

Paul Mikkelsen


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