전자저널 > 전자저널 > Eggs and Egg Capsule Morphologyof the Neptune Whelk, Neptunea constricta (Dall, 1907) (Gastropoda: Buccinidae)

Eggs and Egg Capsule Morphologyof the Neptune Whelk, Neptunea constricta (Dall, 1907) (Gastropoda: Buccinidae)

Min Ho Son

Korea Inter-University Institute of Ocean Science, Pukyong National University, Pusan 608-737, Korea

The morphology of molluscan egg capsule is generally regarded as being species specific (Soliman, 1987; Strathmann, 1987; D'Asaro, 1991; Turner, 1992), and form and structure of the egg capsule reflect the degree of anatomical complexity of the reproductive organs (Fretter and Hian, 1984). Thus, the form and structure of molluscan egg capsule have for long been useful tools in clarifying phylogenetic relationships among the Gastropoda (Ghiselin, 1965). According to the phylogenetic idea, Bandel (1976) and Soliman (1987) suggested a general scheme for the morphological classification or grouping of gastropod egg capsules and/or masses based on the species distributing in the Caribbean Sea and the northwestern Red Sea, respectively. Among gastropods, most neogastropods, including Buccinidae species, usually spawn tough-walled egg capsules (Soliman, 1987) which are firmly attached to the substratum or outer surface of their shells. Thorson (1946) reported brief morphology of egg and egg capsule in 2 European buccinid species (Neptunea antiqua (Linne, 1758) and Buccinum undatum Linne, 1758) with a common characteristic of neogastropod egg capsule, tough-walled capsule. Amio (1963) described 26 neogastropod species of 12 families distributing along the Japanese coasts. Although Amio (1963) described ample of neogastropod species from the far eastern sea, it remains undescribed so far that commonly observed many coastal species, such as Neptunea constricta (Dall, 1907), in the Korean waters. Neptunea constricta is a common buccnid species found in continental shelf of the eastern sea of Korea (Yoo, 1976) and Japan (Okutani et al., 1988). In spite of its predominance along the Korean coasts, morphology of its egg and egg capsule is unknown so far. The purpose of the present study, therefore, is to report the morphology of egg and egg capsule of the neptune whelk, N. constricta with descript-xion and illustration.

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