Larval and Post-larval Shell Morphology of Two Mytilid Species Musculista senhousia (Benson) and Limnoperna fortunei kikuchii Habe

Abstract

In order to aid identification of larval and post-larval stages of two mytilid species Musculista senhousia and Limnoperna fortunei kikuchii, which are both predominant among the intertidal macrobenthos in Lake Hamana along the Pacific coast of middle Honshu, the eggs and planktonic larvae of the two species were cultured in the laboratory until the larvae grew up to post-larval stages. Based these specimens of larval and postlarval stages, morphological features of bivalve shells, especially hinge apparatus, were examined using SEM and optical microscopy, with the result that all stages of the two species are clearly distinguished from each other in several characteristics.