MUSSEL

The early development of two unionoid bivalves from the River Nile, Egypt

by Kohar Garo Varjabedian

Published 2006 in the Journal of the Egyptian-German Society of Zoology Vol (50D): Invertebrate Zoology & Parasitology 139-152. Keywords: Bivalves, glochidia, haustoria (lasidia), River Nile.

Abstract. Adult specimens of the two common bivalves, Coelatura aegyptiaca and Mutela rostrata   belonging to families Unionidae and Mutelidae respectively, were collected from the River Nile at Giza, Egypt during February 2004, to reveal the differences between their larval stages in their early development [glochidia and lasidia (haustoria) respectively]. Such stages were obtained from gravid mussel specimens to be examined by light and scanning microscopy. The present description of the free-living form of lasidia (haustoria) from Mutela rostrata in Egypt is not so far reported from Egypt before.
Figs. (10,11): LM micrograph showing a free-living larva of haustorium in M. rostrata. Note the presence of hooks and spinule at the posterior end (arrow). (a, anterior end; p, posterior end) X200,400 (Scale bar, 0.01, 0.02 µm). Figs. (12,13): SEM micrograph of the free-living larva of haustorium in M. rostrata. X1000, 3000 (d, depression at the ventral side; e; extension within the posterior lobes; h, hooks).

Figs. (10,11): LM micrograph showing a free-living larva of haustorium in M. rostrata. Note the presence of hooks and spinule at the posterior end (arrow). (a, anterior end; p, posterior end) X200,400 (Scale bar, 0.01, 0.02 µm).

Figs. (12,13): SEM micrograph of the free-living larva of haustorium in M. rostrata. X1000, 3000 (d, depression at the ventral side; e; extension within the posterior lobes; h, hooks).
Mashrua Al Mahar: Freshwater Bivalves of the Nile River, Egypt

 
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