Studies on the Chromosomes of the Giant Scallop Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin) and the Surf Clam Spisula solidissima (Dillwyn).

Abstract

The karyotypes of two bivalve molluscs, the giant scallop Placopecten magellanicus and the surf clam Spisula solidissima, were examined in unfertilized eggs and embryos. In both bivalves, a haploid number of 19 and a diploid number of 38 were determined in well-spread metaphase chromosomes of meiotic and mitotic cells respectively. Moreover, karyological analysis of induced triploid embryos in Placopecten magellanicus indicates a chromosome number of 57 and thus corroborates the haploid and diploid counts. The chromosomes of Spisula solidissima are shorter than those of Placopecten magellanicus. Their sizes vary from 1.5 to 4.4μm in surf clam while those in giant scallop range from 3.3 to 8.5μm. Both bivalve species have submetacentric, subtelocentric and telocentric chromosomes but only Spisula solidissima has metacentric chromosomes.