Funnel organ
The funnel organ or chonium is an organ of the cephalopods through which water can be expelled in order to move. An outdated name for the organ is siphon .
features
In pearl boats and other basal cephalopods, the funnel organ consists of two flaps of tissue placed next to one another, which in the cuttlefish are fused together like a tube. The funnel organ is used for breathing and locomotion. To do this, water is expelled from the mantle cavity while moving . Some species have curved funnel organs that increase maneuverability. Ink and waste products are also expelled through the funnel member. Supporting muscles are located on the head on the side of the funnel. On the inside of the organ there are glandular pillows, the so-called Müllerian organ . In the arrangement of the eight-armed squid , the shape is species-specific and varies between W-shapes, single or double V-shapes or it consists of several separate components.
research
In frozen, fossil or poorly preserved material, the structure of the funnel organ is difficult to see. The dye methylene blue can help make the outline of the structure clearer.