Arcuatula perfragilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Mytilida
Family: Mytilidae
Genus: Arcuatula
Species:
A. perfragilis
Binomial name
Arcuatula perfragilis
(Dunker), 1857)
Synonyms[1]
  • Modiola angusta Clessin, 1890
  • Modiolus perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)
  • Musculista perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)
  • Musculus perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)
  • Volsella perfragilis Dunker, 1857

Arcuatula perfragilis is a bivalve mollusc of the mussel family, Mytilidae, which has an Indo-Pacific distribution including the Red Sea. It has invaded the eastern Mediterranean from the Red Sea by way of the Suez Canal, a process known as Lessepsian migration.

Description

Arcuatula perfragilis has a pale green, equivalve shell with a few yellowish radial lines on the dorsal to posterior portion of the valves. The valves are typical mussel-shaped in that they are narrowly ovoid and transversely elongated. The periostracum is shiny. The surface of the valve has a very weak pattern of radiating lines which is discernible only by the strong ligament along the hinge line typical of the family mytilidae. This hinge has between 1 and 5 small dysodont teeth at the anterior end with a further15 towards the posterior part beyond the ligament. The shell length is normally 20mm.[2]

It can be identified from Arcuatula senhousia in the Mediterranean by its having a darker, less shiny, more rounded shell and because it possesses less distinct, fewer, smaller riblets anterior to the umbones.[2]

Distribution

Arcuatula perfragilis has an Indo-Pacific distribution and occurs from the Red Sea east to Japan.[3] It was first recorded in the Mediterranean off Israel in 1960 but was initially misidentified as Arcuatula glaberrima (then named as Modiolus glabberrimus), it has now spread as far as Turkey.[4]

Biology

Arcuatula perfragilis is a benthic species which usually occurs in shallow water between 0-30m on intertidal mud and sand.[5]

Taxonomy

Arcuatula perfragilis is the type species of the genus Arcuatula.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Markus Huber (2010). "Arcuatula perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 A. Zenetos; S. Gofas; G. Russo; J. Templado (2005). "Musculista perfragilis". CIESM Atlas of Exotic Species in the Mediterranean - Vol 3 Molluscs. Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Méditerranée . Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Tadashige Habe (1981). "A Catalogue of Molluscs of Wakayama Prefecture, The Province of Kil" (PDF). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. Special Publication Series. University of Kyoto. 7: xii-264.
  4. ↑ C. Turan; B. Salihoğlu; E. Özgür Özbek; B. Öztürk, B., eds. (2016). The Turkish Part of the Mediterranean Sea; Marine Biodiversity, Fisheries, Conservation and Governance. Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) Istanbul. p. 189. ISBN 978-975-8825-35-6.
  5. ↑ "Musculista perfragilis (Dunker, 1856)". Sea Life Base. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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