>  While thumbing through "Shells of Britain and Europe" I came across these
>  two entries: Tonna galea and Galeodea echinphora both contain sulfuric acid
>  in their saliva. The note goes on to say that the acid helps in dissolving
>  the shell of what ever they are eating.

Tonnoideans are generally fond of echinoids, so acid is quite useful for them as predators.

Acid or chelating agents may be used by animals to bore into rock and shell, but I don't remember full details offhand.


    Dr. David Campbell
    Old Seashells
    University of Alabama
    Biodiversity & Systematics
    Dept. Biological Sciences
    Box 870345
    Tuscaloosa, AL  35487-0345 USA
    [log in to unmask]

That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------