volume 34

Sequentially appearing in ontogenesis, the morphometric features of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae can serve as a basis for their species identification among the pool of larvae of  other bivalve mollusc species found in the Black Sea plankton. The study presents the photographs of live mussel larvae and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the larvae hinge at different developmental stages: D-veliger, veliger, veliconcha and pediveliger. There was shown the sequence of morphological changes in provinculum, as well as the shell’s size and shape changes, from the earliest straight-hinge stage of veliger up to metamorphosis. The correlation between shell height (H, μm) and shell length (L, μm) [H = 1.0022∙L–29.374; R2 = 0.9879], as well as the correlation between hinge edge length (l, μm) and shell length (L, μm) [l = 0.0009∙L2 – 0.018∙L +77,78; R2 = 0.9872] were determined for mussel larvae ranging in size from 98 to 350 µm. By employing energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy EDS(x), the elemental composition of the larvae shell’s hinge edge at the stages of veliger, veliconcha and pediveliger was determined; and it showed the presence of calcium, carbon, oxygen, sodium and chlorine. Magnesium was detected in pediveligers’ hinge edge only.

Mytilisepta virgata was first collected as empty shells attached to plastic debris in south-western part of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan), near Russian-Korean border. This species may be considered as a potentially non-indigenous species in Russian waters due to coastal warming, influence of warm-water currents and its presence in North Korean waters. A description, illustrations, data on distribution and ecology and taxonomic comments are provided.