Gonadal development and sexuality of Larkinia grandis (Arcida: Arcidae) inhabiting southeastern Gulf of California

By

Sotelo-Gonzalez, Maria I.
García-Ulloa, Manuel
Góngora-Gómez, Andrés M.
Salcido-Guevara, Luis A.
Arzola González, Juan Francisco
Sepúlveda, Carlos H.
Sánchez-Cárdenas, Rebeca

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021-3-9

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

38

Pages

1--10

Subjects

bivalve , Estuary , gametogenesis , gonad , mangrove cockle , sex cells

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.38.e56529

 

Abstract

<br> Larkinia grandis (Broderip &amp;amp; G.B. Sowerby I, 1829), an important fishing resource for Mexican communities, is an Arcidae clam. It is also considered a species with aquaculture potential. In this work we investigated the gonadal phases and sexuality in a population of L. grandis in the Gulf of California. Our findings support the hypothesis that there is one male per female in the population studied. It also documents that the shape, position and color of the gonads of L. grandis are consistent with observations in other Arcidae species. Additionally, five gonadal phases are differentiated and described in males and females (development, mature, spawning, post-spawning and resting), with a noticeable presence of brown cells during post-spawning and the onset of the resting phase, suggesting that those cells are involved in the reabsorption of remnants. Additionally, asynchronous gametogenesis in males, synchronic gametogenesis in females and batch spawning are defined. The results of this contribution can be used in the efforts to protect this bivalve.