Osmar Domaneschi

Isognomon bicolor (C.B. Adams) (Bivalvia, Isognomonidae): primeiro registro para o Brasil, redescrição da espécie e considerações sobre a ocorrência e distribuição de Isognomon na costa brasileira

The bivalve family Isognomonidae is represented in the Western Atlantic by the living genera Crenatula Lamarck, 1804 and Isognomon Solander, 1786. I. alatus (Gmelin, 1791) and I. radiatus (Anton, 1839) are the only Isognomonidae referred to the Brazilian malacofauna. The present work refers to the first record and geographic distribution of I. bicolor along the Brazilian littoral, and presents a re-description of the species based on shell characters, which include those of the prodissoconch. The occurrence of I. alatus and I. radiatus along the Brazilian littoral could not be confirmed, despite the intensive search for these Isognomonidae from Rio Grande do Norte through Rio Grande do Sul.

New perspectives on the dispersal mechanisms of the Antarctic brooding bivalve Mysella charcoti (Lamy, 1906)

Abstract. Brooding is a widespread phenomenon among Antarctic bivalves. Although it should represent a handicap to dispersion, many brooding species have achieved a wide distribution in Antarctic and subantarctic waters, suggesting that they have alternative and effective methods of dispersal. Evidence of such an alternative method is presented here for the bivalve Mysella charcoti, unexpectedly found alive and healthy in feces expelled by Nototheniacoriiceps (Nototheniidae: Pisces). The finding indicates that the snug-fitting shell of Mysella functions as a barrier to digestive enzymes. Withstanding passage through the digestive tract of fish allows Mysella to be passively dispersed (within the home range of the fish) and colonize new habitats or re-colonize shallow-water substrates severely impacted by ice scours.

Bivalves Antárticos e Subantárticos coletados durante as Expedições Científicas Brasileiras à Antártica I a IX (1982-1991)

The bivalves collected in the Western Antarctic and Subantarctic waters by scientists of the Instituto Oceanografico - USP during the Scientific Brazilian Expeditions to Antarctical-IX are characterised through its conchiliological features, illustrated and their occurrence plotted in maps. A species of bivalve collected by scuba divers of the IO-USP on the Napier Rock, Admiralty Bay, King George Island during the Expeditions XV and XVI is also considered in this work. The material identified is representative of 25 species distributed among three families and four genera of Protobranchia, three farnilies and five genera of Pteriornorpha, five families and six genera of Heterodonta, and four families and four genera of Anomalo desmata. The main scope of this work is to provide searchers dealing with macrobenthic fauna with an ease identification guide to the bivalved molluscs of the sampled region.

A new species of Mysella Angas, 1877 (Bivalvia: Galeommatoidea) from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica, with data on its biology and functional anatomy

Mysella narchii sp. nov. is described from the material collected in shallow-waters of Admiralty Bay at King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. The species is characterized by shell features, biology and functional anatomy. The main shell features distinguishing M. narchii sp. nov. from all other Antarctic, Subantarctic and Magellanic Mysella spp. are provided, as are anatomical characteristics that separate this new species from M. charcoti (Lamy, 1906), its most similar congener and the first Antarctic species studied in its morpho-functional aspects. M. narchii sp. nov. is an infaunal, free-living, predominantly deposit-feeding bivalve; its creeping sole and the secretion of byssal threads allow it to crawl vertically and live sporadically on firm substrata.

Biology and functional morphology of the pallial organs of the Antarctic bivalve Mysella charcoti (Lamy, 1906) (Galeommatoidea: Lasaeidae)

Mysella charcoti is an Antarctic lasaeid bivalve and the most frequently encountered mollusc in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands. The behaviour of the species in aquaria, combined with analyses of the gross and microscopic morphologies and functioning of the organs in the mantle cavity of living and preserved specimens have allowed an understanding of important aspects of its biology. The role of the foot and its ciliature during the processes of dislodgement and burrowing within the sediment are described. The species is a free-living, shallow-burrower, with a predominantly deposit-feeding habit and derives part of its food from the labile settled organic deposits carried into the mantle cavity by the anterior–posterior current of water. Pedal sweep-feeding was not detected. M. charcoti is the first known lasaeid with ctenidia formed of the descending lamellae of the inner demibranchs only, a feature probably related to its highly specialised brooding habit.

Biologia e anatomia funcional de Donax gemmula Morrison (Bivalvia, Donacidae) do litoral de São Paulo, Brasil

Donax gemmula Morrison, 1971 is a small bivalve occurring on sandy beaches throughout the Southeastern Brazilian coast to Uruguai. Live specimens were collected from Barequecaba Beach, Sao Sebastiao, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The animals behaviour was recorded in situ as well as in aquaria, and its functional morphology registered from specimens dissected under stereomicroscope; details of the anatomy were obtained from histological sections. The minute, smooth subglobose shell, and the large, muscular foot provided with a pair of well-developed elevator muscles allow fast burrowing, vital in the disturbed beach environment where the species lives. A vestigial byssal apparatus is present from juvenile through the adult form and this free-living infaunal donacid does not migrate following the rising and ebbing tides. The mantle margins have the middle fold duplicated; besides captate tentacles, the middle folds bear long, filiform, sensory tentacles, the latter restricted to the rear end of the animal. The presence of complete, large, homorhabdic ctenidia; small but very selective labial palps; short and few convoluted intestine, separated from the style sac; and straining tentacles encircling the inhalant aperture reveal the selective suspension feeding habit of the species.