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 
| |
| 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] | |
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Description
editArcuatula 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
editArcuatula 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
editArcuatula perfragilis is a benthic species which usually occurs in shallow water between 0-30m on intertidal mud and sand.[5]
Taxonomy
editArcuatula perfragilis is the type species of the genus Arcuatula.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Markus Huber (2010). "Arcuatula perfragilis (Dunker, 1857)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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. 7. University of Kyoto: xii-264.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Musculista perfragilis (Dunker, 1856)". Sea Life Base. Retrieved 3 March 2017.