Caudofoveata

---

title: "Caudofoveata" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["caudofoveata", "mollusc-classes"] description: "Class of molluscs" topic_path: "general/caudofoveata" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudofoveata" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Class of molluscs ::

| image = Chaetoderma nitidulum.jpg | image_caption = Chaetoderma nitidulum | taxon = Caudofoveata | authority = | subdivision_ranks = Families and genera | subdivision = See text.

Caudofoveata is a small class within the phylum Mollusca, also known as Chaetodermomorpha. The class is often combined with Solenogastres and termed Aplacophora, but some studies have cast doubt on the monophyly of this group.

Anatomy

Caudofoveata are worm-like molluscs ranging 0.02–10 cm in size, but one species, Chaetoderma felderi, can reach 36.5 cm. The foot is completely absent, and instead of a shell their mantle is covered in calcareous spines called sclerites.

Ecology

Caudofoveates live by burrowing through soft sediment, and feed by lying vertically in the sediment with just the mouthparts exposed and taking in passing organic detritus. During sexual reproduction, the female produces eggs which are fertilized and brooded, and then the larvae swim freely.

Diet

Caudofoveates are deposit feeders, or more selective detritivores or predators of foraminifera.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199908)241:23.0.CO;2-0 | last1 = Guralnick | first1 = R. | last2 = Smith | first2 = K. | title = Historical and biomechanical analysis of integration and dissociation in molluscan feeding, with special emphasis on the true limpets (Patellogastropoda: Gastropoda) | journal = Journal of Morphology | volume = 241 | issue = 2 | pages = 175–195 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10420163

Taxonomy

Caudofoveata comprises one order Chaetodermatida and the following families, genera:

• Order Chaetodermatida
  • Family Chaetodermatidae
    • Chaetoderma
    • Falcidens
    • Furcillidens
  • Family Limifossoridae
    • Limifossor
    • Metachaetoderma
    • Psilodens
    • Scutopus
  • Family Prochaetodermatidae
    • Chevroderma
    • Claviderma
    • Dacryomica
    • Lonchoderma
    • Niteomica
    • Prochaetoderma
    • Spathoderma There are 14 genera, with about 150 known species.

References

References

1. (May 2006). "Evidence for a clade composed of molluscs with serially repeated structures: monoplacophorans are related to chitons". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
2. Mikkelsen, Nina T.. (2019). "Molecular phylogeny of Caudofoveata (Mollusca) challenges traditional views". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
3. "Caudofoveata".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::