New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

---

Larval shell development of the northern tuatua, Paphies subtriangulata (Bivalvia, Mesodesmatidae)

PETER REDFEARN

Fisheries Research Centre Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries P. O. Box 297 Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract The larval shell development of Paphies subtriangulata is described from larvae reared to settlement in the hatchery. Externally the larval shells of P. subtriangulata are very similar to those of Paphies ventricosa and, to a lesser extent, Paphies australis. Internally the hinge structures of the late-stage larvae of P. subtriangulata, P. ventricosa, and P. australis are sufficiently different to distinguish the species. The spatulate tooth and the peg tooth of P. ventricosa are absent in P. subtriangulata and P. australis; the ligament of P. australis is posterior to the provinculum and central in P. ventricosa and P. subtriangulata. Straight-hinge stage larvae of P. subtriangulata were 88-143 \im long and 67-117 nm high and umbo stage larvae were 125-265 ^m long and 97-223 nm high. The larvae settled in about 17 days from a length of 230 urn.

Keywords bivalve larvae; Mesodesmatidae; larval shell development; larval morphology

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1987, Vol. 21: 65-70 0028-8330/87/2101-0065$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1987 Received 14 May 1986; accepted 12 June 1986 Fisheries Research Publication 550

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1276K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

---

This year's abstracts | Journal home page | All abstracts | Publishing home page