Bullacta exarata

[4] Bullacta is the type genus of the family Bullactidae Thiele, 1926, as shown in the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005).

[3] The cephalic disc is large and slipper-shaped, feebly emarginate on the dorsal surface behind and with a narrow free margin.

[3] It, the edge of the mantle (which is slightly retroverted over that of the shell), the foot and the epipodia are (in alcohol) of a pale green colour.

[3] The gill, which is situated far back on the right side, is large and consists of a considerable number of fleshly lobes.

[3] The single lateral tooth is well differentiated from the marginal teeth, from which it is separated by a considerable space, and points in the opposite direction.

[3] There is a long, narrow, thin-walled oesophagus with a single coil; before entering the muscular gizzard it is considerably dilated.

[3] A longitudinal strand of muscular tissue runs up its dorsal surface for a short distance from the gizzard.

[3] The gizzard contains three large, stout chitinous bodies, which are smooth and heart-shaped at their base on its external surface.

[3] Internally they are convex, curved and tapering, with stout, somewhat serrate reversed V-shaped transverse ridges.

[3] The intestine after leaving the gizzard bears three small, almost spherical, diverticula, one behind the base of each of the chitinous plates.

[3] When extracted therefrom it is an almost cylindrical organ with two coils, or constrictions, in its course, bluntly pointed at the apex and much contracted proximally.

[17] According to the measurement of hygienic indicator bacteria Escherichia coli in 2001, the meat of Bullacta exarata meets national standards (3 cells of Escherichia coli in one gram of fresh meat) in Shanghai province and in most of Zhejiang province.

[18] Heavy metals in the tissues of Bullacta exarata from the Yangtze Estuary were measured by Lu et al. in 2001.

Drawing of one row of teeth in the radula of Bullacta exarata .
C - central tooth,
L - lateral tooth,
1-12 - marginal teeth.
Drawing of penis-sack of Bullacta exarata .
Drawing of penis extracted from the sack.
Drawing of stylet extracted from the penis.