Reproductive biology of the rock-borer Petricola lithophaga (Retzius, 1788) (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in the Black Sea

ABSTRACT

For the first time, aspects of the reproduction of the little-known rock-borer mollusc Petricola lithophaga (Retzius, 1788) are described. Specimens were studied during the period from June 2012 to June 2014 (Black Sea, Sevastopol Bay). Histological methods were used to describe gametogenesis stages and spawning of the molluscs. The size and age of onset of sexual maturity, individual fecundity and other factors are defined.

KEYWORDS:

• Fecundity
• gonad index
• molluscs
• reproduction
• spawning period

Acknowledgements

I am thankful to Dr Winston F. Ponder, Dr Barry R. Wilson and an anonymous reviewer for valuable comments on the manuscript. I am also indebted to Dr Anton A. Nadolny (Sevastopol) for his kind help with preparing the illustrations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author