Work

Morphological and morphometrical description of the glochidia ofWestralunio carteriIredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae)

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Most freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionoida) larvae (glochidia in Margaritiferidae, Hyriidae and Unionidae) are fish parasites. Knowledge of the larval morphology and the mechanism of release in freshwater mussels is useful in species systematics and ecology. Westralunio carteri is the only unionoid from south-western Australia. Little information is available on its biology and its glochidia have never been described. The aim of this study was to describe the glochidia of W. carteri and method of their release. Glochidia within vitelline membranes were embedded in mucus which extruded from exhalent siphons of females during spring/summer; they then hatched from vitelline membranes but remained tethered by a larval thread and began characteristically “winking”. Shells (n=120) were subtriangular, 308 μm long (±0.83 SE), 251 μm high (±0.73 SE) and had a hinge length of 212 μm (±0.78 SE). Larval teeth were singular with interlocking cusps and convex or concave basal protuberances on opposing valves.

Source: Molluscan Research

DOI: 10.1080/13235818.2013.782791

Authors: Michael W. Klunzinger, Gordon J. Thomson, Stephen J. Beatty, David L. Morgan, Alan J. Lymbery

Institution: Murdoch University

Language: English

Topic: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: green

Funders: Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, Murdoch University