Arcuatula perfragilis

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.

Arcuatula perfragilis
Scientific classification
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

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]

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References
  1. Markus Huber (2010). "Arcuatula perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  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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