ABSTRACT
Slipper lobsters are a unique group characterized by their distinctive, dorsoventrally flattened body. The mouthpart and digestive system morphology of larval, juvenile, and adult slipper lobsters are summarized in this chapter, and dietary preferences, feeding behavior, ingestion mechanisms, and digestive system function are inferred from the morphology. Bivalve mollusks are the preferred diet of scyllarids and are wedged open using sharp pereiopod dactyls. Adult mouthparts are not heavily calcified, and a shearing action of the asymmetrical mandibles masticates flesh. A large, prominent, membranous lobe (modified metastome) is characteristic of scyllarids and plays an important role in ingestion to lubricate food and allow quick and efficient swallowing of large items by retraction of its anterior lip. Compared with palinurid and nephropid lobsters, the cardiac stomach of adult slipper lobsters is simple with reduced ossicles and simple ventral filtration channels. The gastric mill teeth are well-developed with large incisor processes and chitinous plates. It is a simplified cutting apparatus and the major masticatory action is a cutting action by the lateral teeth, with only a minor role for the medial tooth. Digestive gland structure and function is similar to other lobsters with high concentrations of proteolytic enzymes consistent with a carnivorous diet. Dietary preferences, feeding, and digestion in phyllosoma remain poorly understood. Phyllosoma mouthparts are well-developed from stage I, with sharp incisor processes on the mandibles and well-developed setation on the first maxillae and second maxillipeds. Mastication mostly occurs through the action of well-developed incisor and molar mandibular processes. In contrast to nephropid lobster larvae, which lack the teeth of the gastric mill until stage III, the foregut of the scyllarid phyllosoma lacks a gastric mill in all stages and does not grind food, but functions mainly to sort and filter food particles previously masticated by the mandibles. These characteristics are suggestive of a gelatinous diet that requires little additional mastication by internal teeth.
