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The gastropod Crepidula fecunda feeds in 2 distinct ways: grazing of the substrate and suspension feeding. The taenioglossan radula plays a role in both processes. In the former, the radula rasps the surface, and the material is immediately ingested. This means of food acquisition is mainly used by motile individuals, ie juveniles and adult males. Adult females are sessile, and are only able to rasp the area beneath the head region, severely limiting the amount of food acquired. Females brooding egg capsules are even more restricted, since the area normally grazed is occupied by the capsule mass. The second mode of feeding, suspension feeding, is exhibited by late juveniles and all adults. Suspended particles are captured in mucous nets on the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the single gill lamella. The entrained particles, loosely bound in mucus, are transported by ciliary action to the distal tips of the filaments …