Description of the glochidia of Alathyria pertexta pertexta Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia : Hyriidae) from south-eastern Queensland
Michael W. Klunzinger
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia, and Mollusc Section, Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia, and BWG Environmental, North Lakes, Qld 4509, Australia. Email: m.klunzinger@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Zoology 67(1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO19056
Submitted: 30 August 2019 Accepted: 10 December 2019 Published: 15 January 2020
Abstract
Most freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida) have larvae (glochidia in Margaritiferidae, Hyriidae and Unionidae) that are parasitic on fishes. Mechanisms of glochidia release and morphological features (size, shape, larval teeth, etc.) vary across taxa and geography. Among the Australasian Hyriidae, glochidia have been described from 12 of the 28 putative species. Alathyria pertexta Iredale, 1934 is a widespread species from subtropical/semitemperate south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales to the northern wet tropics of Queensland and southern New Guinea. Little information is available on its biology and its glochidia have not been described in detail. The aim of this study was to describe the glochidia of A. pertexta pertexta and the method of their release. Gravid females collected from Mary River, near Kenilworth, and Isaac River, north-west of Rockhampton, Queensland, released glochidia in ‘amorphous mucus conglutinates’, in which glochidia are released from exhalent siphons of females in a loose mucus matrix that dissociates in water, during the austral spring (August–October); they then hatched from vitelline membranes but remained tethered by a larval thread and began characteristically ‘winking’. Shells (n = 80) are subtriangular and scalene in shape, 268.1 µm long (±1.21, s.e.), 242.9 µm high (±1.22, s.e.) and have a hinge length of 191 µm (±0.63, s.e.). Larval teeth are spineless, S-shaped hooks with singular interlocking cusps on opposing valves. The surface of the apex and valve margins are crenulated, and valves are smooth and porous, held together by a hinge and a singular internal adductor muscle.
Additional keywords: functional anatomy, larval tooth, Palaeoheterodonta, Unionida, Velesunioninae.
References
Araujo, R., and Ramos, M. A. (1998). Description of the glochidium of Margaritifera auricularia (Spengler 1793) (Bivalvia, Unionoidea). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 353, 1553–1559.| Description of the glochidium of Margaritifera auricularia (Spengler 1793) (Bivalvia, Unionoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arey, L. B. (1921). An experimental study on glochidia and the factors underlying encystment. The Journal of Experimental Zoology 33, 462–499.
| An experimental study on glochidia and the factors underlying encystment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Atkins, L. (1979). Observations on the glochidial stage of the freshwater mussel Hyridella (Hyridella) drapeta (Iredale) (Mollusca: Pelecypoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 30, 411–416.
Balla, S. A., and Walker, K. F. (1991). Shape variation in the Australian freshwater mussel Alathyria jacksoni Iredale (Bivalvia, Hyriidae). Hydrobiologia 220, 89–98.
| Shape variation in the Australian freshwater mussel Alathyria jacksoni Iredale (Bivalvia, Hyriidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barnhart, M. C., Haag, W. R., and Roston, W. N. (2008). Adaptations to host infection and larval parasitism in Unionoida. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 27, 370–394.
| Adaptations to host infection and larval parasitism in Unionoida.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bauer, G. (1994). The adaptive value of offspring size among freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoidea). Journal of Animal Ecology 63, 933–944.
| The adaptive value of offspring size among freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bauer, G., and Wächtler, K. (2001). ‘Ecology and Evolution of the Freshwater Mussels Unionoida.’ (Springer: New York.)
Bonetto, A. A. (1960). Contribuición al conocimientes de las glochidias del género Diplodon y su aplicación a los estudios sistemáticos. Actas y Trabajos Congreso Sudamericano de Zoologia, La Plata 2, 43–59.
Carter, J. G., Altaba, C. R., Anderson, L. C., Araujo, R., Biakov, A. S., Bogan, A. E., Campbell, D. C., Campbell, M., Chen, J., Cope, J. C. W., Delvene, G., Dijkstra, H. H., Fang, Z., Gardner, R. N., Gavrilova, V. A., Goncharova, I. A., Harries, P. J., Hartman, J. H., Hautmann, M., Hoeh, W. R., Hylleberg, J., Jiang, B., Johnston, P., Kirkendale, L., Kleemann, K., Koppka, J., Kříž, J., Machado, D., Malchus, N., Márquez-Aliaga, A., Masse, J.-P., McRoberts, C. A., Middelfart, P. U., Mitchell, S., Nevesskaja, L. A., Özer, S., Pojeta, J., Jr, Polubotko, I. V., Maria Pons, J., Popov, S., Sánchez, T., Sartori, A. F., Scott, W. R., Sey, I. I., Signorelli, J. H., Silantiev, V. V., Skelton, P. W., Steuber, T., Waterhouse, J. B., Wingard, G. L. and Yancey, T. (2011). A synoptical classification of the Bivalvia (Mollusca). Kansas University Paleontological Institute, Paleontological Contributions 4, 1–47.
Graf, D. L. (2013). Patterns of freshwater bivalve global diversity and the state of phylogenetic studies on the Unionoida, Sphaeriidae, and Cyrenidae. American Malacological Bulletin 31, 135–153.
| Patterns of freshwater bivalve global diversity and the state of phylogenetic studies on the Unionoida, Sphaeriidae, and Cyrenidae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Graf, D. L., and Cummings, K. S. (2006). Palaeoheterodont diversity (Mollusca: Trigonioida + Unionoida): what we know and what we wish we knew about freshwater mussel evolution. Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society of London 148, 343–394.
| Palaeoheterodont diversity (Mollusca: Trigonioida + Unionoida): what we know and what we wish we knew about freshwater mussel evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Graf, D. L., Jones, H. A., Geneva, A. J., Pfeiffer, J. M., and Klunzinger, M. W. (2015). Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports a Gondwanan origin of the Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) and the paraphyly of Australasian taxa. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 85, 1–9.
| Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports a Gondwanan origin of the Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) and the paraphyly of Australasian taxa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25659337PubMed |
Haag, W. R. (2012). ‘North American Freshwater Mussels: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation.’ (Cambridge University Press: New York.)
Hoggarth, M. A. (1987). Determination of anterior–posterior orientation of glochidia by the examination of glochidial valves present within the umbos of juvenile unionid clams (Mollusca: Bivalvia). The Ohio Journal of Science 87, 93–95.
Hoggarth, M. A. (1999). Description of some of the glochidia of the Unionidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Malacologia 41, 1–118.
Humphrey, C. L. (1984). Biology and ecology of the freshwater mussel Velesunio angasi (Bivalvia: Hyriidae) in the Magela Creek, Alligator Rivers region, Northern Territory. Ph.D. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.
Iredale, T. (1934). The freshwater mussels of Australia. Australian Zoologist 8, 57–78.
Jones, H. A. (2013). Distribution of freshwater mussels (Unionida: Hyriidae) in coastal southeastern Australian rivers and impacts of landscape modification on conservation status. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Sydney.
Jones, H. A., Simpson, R. D., and Humphrey, C. L. (1986). The reproductive cycles and glochidia of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Hyriidae) of the Macleay River, northern New South Wales, Australia. Malacologia 27, 185–202.
Jupiter, S. D., and Byrne, M. (1997). Light and scanning electron microscopy of the embryos and glochidia larvae of the Australian freshwater bivalve Hyridella depressa (Hyriidae). Invertebrate Reproduction & Development 32, 177–186.
| Light and scanning electron microscopy of the embryos and glochidia larvae of the Australian freshwater bivalve Hyridella depressa (Hyriidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kennedy, T. B., and Haag, W. R. (2005). Using morphometrics to identify glochidia from a diverse freshwater mussel community. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 24, 880–889.
| Using morphometrics to identify glochidia from a diverse freshwater mussel community.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Klunzinger, M. W., Beatty, S. J., Morgan, D. L., Lymbery, R, Thomson, G. J., and Lymbery, A. J. (2011). Discovery of a host fish species for glochidia of Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 94, 19–23.
Klunzinger, M. W., Beatty, S. J., Morgan, D. L., Lymbery, A. J., and Thomson, G. J. (2012). Glochidia ecology in wild fish populations and laboratory determination of competent host fishes for an endemic freshwater mussel of south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 60, 26–36.
| Glochidia ecology in wild fish populations and laboratory determination of competent host fishes for an endemic freshwater mussel of south-western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Klunzinger, M. W., Thomson, G. J., Beatty, S. J., Morgan, D. L., and Lymbery, A. J. (2013). Morphological and morphometrical description of the glochidia of Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae). Molluscan Research 33, 104–109.
| Morphological and morphometrical description of the glochidia of Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Hyriidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lima, R. C., and Avelar, W. E. P. (2010). A new additive to the artificial culture medium for freshwater bivalve culture in vitro. Invertebrate Reproduction & Development 54, 89–94.
| A new additive to the artificial culture medium for freshwater bivalve culture in vitro.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mansur, M. D. (1999). The glochidium of Diplodon martensi (lhering) (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hyriidae) and its parasitic cycle. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 16, 185–194.
| The glochidium of Diplodon martensi (lhering) (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hyriidae) and its parasitic cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mansur, M. C. D., and Campos-Velho, N. M. R. (2000). The glochidium of Castalia martensi (Ihering, 1891) (Bivalvia, Unionoida: Hyriidae). Heldia 3, 6–10.
Mansur, M. C. D., and Oliveira da Silva, M. d. G. (1999). Description of glochidia of five species of freshwater mussels (Hyriidae: Unionoidea) from South America. Malacologia 41, 475–483.
Marshall, B. A., Fenwick, M. C., and Ritchie, P. A. (2014). New Zealand Recent Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida). Molluscan Research 34, 181–200.
| New Zealand Recent Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martínez, R. (1983). Contibución al conocimiento de la gloquídia de Castalia ambigua maltisulcata Hupé, 1857, “Guacuco de rio” (Mollusca: Lamellibranchia: Hyriidae). Acta Biologica Venezuelana 11, 197–213.
Matteson, M. R. (1948). Life history of Elliptio complanatus (Dillwyn, 1817). American Midland Naturalist 40, 690–723.
| Life history of Elliptio complanatus (Dillwyn, 1817).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McMichael, D. F., and Hiscock, I. D. (1958). A monograph of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) of the Australian Region. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 9, 372–507.
| A monograph of the freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) of the Australian Region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Melchior, M., Collier, K. J., and Clearwater, S. J. (2019). First record of complex release strategies and morphometry of glochidia in sympatric Echyridella species (Bivalvia: Unionida: Hyriidae). Hydrobiologia , .
| First record of complex release strategies and morphometry of glochidia in sympatric Echyridella species (Bivalvia: Unionida: Hyriidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parodiz, J. J., and Bonetto, A. A. (1963). Taxonomy and zoogeographic relationships of the South American Naiades. International Journal of Malacology 1, 179–213.
Pekkarinen, M., and Valovirta, I. (1996). Anatomy of the glochidia of the freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) Archiv für Hydrobiologie 137, 411–423.
Percival, E. (1931). A note on the life history of Diplodon lutulentus Gould. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 62, 86–91.
Pfeiffer, J. M., and Graf, D. L. (2015). Evolution of bilaterally asymmetrical larvae in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 175, 307–318.
| Evolution of bilaterally asymmetrical larvae in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pimpão, D. M., Mansur, M. C. D., Aydos Bergonci, P. E., and Beasley, C. R. (2012). Comparative morphometry and morphology of glochidial shells of Amazonian Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida). American Malacological Bulletin 30, 73–84.
| Comparative morphometry and morphology of glochidial shells of Amazonian Hyriidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sayenko, E. M. (2016). The microsculpture of glochidia of some anodontine bivalves (Unionidae). The Biological Bulletin 43, 127–135.
| The microsculpture of glochidia of some anodontine bivalves (Unionidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sheldon, F. (2017). Variable plasticity in shell morphology of some Australian freshwater mussels (Unionoida, Hyriidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 141, 193–208.
| Variable plasticity in shell morphology of some Australian freshwater mussels (Unionoida, Hyriidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Strayer, D. L. (2008). ‘Freshwater Mussel Ecology: a Multifactor Approach to Distribution and Abundance.’ (University of California Press: Berkley, CA.)
Surber, T. (1915). Identification of the glochidia of fresh-water mussels. Report of the US Commissioner of Fisheries for 1914. Appendix 5: 1–9 (issued separately as U.S. Bureau of Fisheries Document 813).
Treby, S. (2016). Building mussels: determining causes of relative abundance in two sympatric freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Hyriidae, Hyridella) in southeastern Australia. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Vikhrev, I. V., Makhrov, A. A., Artamonova, V. S., Ermolenko, A. V., Gofarov, M. Y., Kabakov, M. B., Kondakov, A. V., Chukhchin, D. G., Lyubas, A. A., and Bolotov, I. N. (2019). Fish hosts, glochidia features and life cycle of the endemic freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera dahurica from the Amur Basin. Scientific Reports 9, 8300.
| Fish hosts, glochidia features and life cycle of the endemic freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera dahurica from the Amur Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31165761PubMed |
Wächtler, K., Dreher-Mansur, M. C., and Richter, T. (2001). Larval types and early postlarval biology in naiads (Unionoida). In ‘Ecology and Evolution of the Freshwater Mussels Unionoida’. (Eds G. Bauer, and K. Wächtler.) pp. 93–125. (Springer: New York.)
Walker, K. F. (1981). Ecology of freshwater mussels in the River Murray. Australian Water Resources Council Technical Paper No. 63. Australian Water Resources Council. Canberra.
Walker, K. F. (2017). Reproductive phenology of river and lake populations of freshwater mussels (Unionida: Hyriidae) in the River Murray. Molluscan Research 37, 31–44.
| Reproductive phenology of river and lake populations of freshwater mussels (Unionida: Hyriidae) in the River Murray.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, K. F., Byrne, M., Hickey, C. W., and Roper, D. S. (2001). Freshwater mussels (Hyriidae) of Australia. In ‘Ecology and Evolution of the Freshwater Mussels Unionoida’. (Eds G. Bauer, and K. Wächtler.) pp. 5–32. (Springer: New York.)
Walker, K. F., Jones, H. A., and Klunzinger, M. W. (2014). Bivalves in a bottleneck: taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) in Australasia. Hydrobiologia 735, 61–79.
| Bivalves in a bottleneck: taxonomy, phylogeography and conservation of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) in Australasia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watters, G. T. (2002). The kinetic conglutinate of the creeper freshwater mussel, Straphitus undulates (Say, 1818). Journal of Molluscan Studies 68, 155–158.
| The kinetic conglutinate of the creeper freshwater mussel, Straphitus undulates (Say, 1818).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12011241PubMed |
Watters, G. T. (2008). The morphology of conglutinates and conglutinate-like structures in North American freshwater mussels: a scanning-electron microscopy survey. Novapex 9, 1–20.
Widarto, T. H. (1993). Aspects of the biology of Velesunio ambiguus Philippi from a tropical freshwater environment, Ross River, Townsville, Australia. M.Sc. Thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville.
Wood, E. M. (1974). Development and morphology of the glochidium larvae of Anodonta cygnea (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Journal of Zoology 173, 1–13.
| Development and morphology of the glochidium larvae of Anodonta cygnea (Mollusca: Bivalvia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
