Shell morphology of larval and post-larval mytilids from the north-western Atlantic

Abstract

Comparison of early shell morphological features of six mytilids from the north-western Atlantic revealed differences useful for species identification and classification. Brachidontes exustus, lschadium recurvum, Geukensia demissa, Amygdalum papyrium, Mytilus edulis, and Modiolus modiolus larvae and post-larvae were cultured in the laboratory. Scanning electron micrographs of the shell and hinge during early ontogenetic stages showed that all species had a long provinculum with taxodont dentition. In addition, provinculum length and number of teeth increased during the larval period in the six species. The small, numerous provincular teeth of Mytilus edulis and the bold, comparatively few provincular teeth of Amygdalum papyrium clearly differentiated these two species. Most species had a low umbo, round posterior margin, and more pointed anterior margin, although Amygdalum papyrium was distinguished by a high, prominent umbo. Distinction of Geukensia demissa and lschadium recurvum larval shells was difficult due to similarity in their shapes and hinge dentition. However, discriminant analysis using larval shell length, shell height, provinculum length, and number of teeth aided in classification of these and other sympatric species.