The Japanese Eight-barbel Loach Lefua echigonia, a New Record of Host Fish for Glochidia of the Freshwater Unionid Mussel Pronodularia japanensis

Abstract

The availability of the Japanese eight-barbel loach Lefua echigonia as a host fish for the glochidia of the unionid mussel Pronodularia japanensis was investigated. The hosts to which the glochidia were attached in a paddy field ditch were cultured in tanks (61, 28±0.5℃) for nine days. Glochidia and juveniles that became detached from the hosts were counted daily. Juveniles appeared about six days after glochidia attachment. L. echigonia is thought to be a suitable host, on which over 10% of attached glochidia metamorphosed to juveniles.